On ErevLit. Evening Jewish holidays begin in the evening. Hence, Erev Shabbat is the eve of the Sabbath. Yom KippurThe holiest day of the Jewish year and the culmination of a season of self-reflection. Jews fast, abstain from other worldly pleasures, and gather in prayers that last throughout the day. Following Ne'ilah, the final prayers, during which Jews envision the Gates of Repentance closing, the shofar is sounded in one long blast to conclude the holy day. It is customary to begin building one's sukkah as soon as the day ends. (Oct 8th, 2019), as Jews around the world prepare for the holiday, the U.S. Supreme Court is hearing cases to determine if LGBTQ+ people are protected under Title VII.Â
Our God and God of our ancestors,
God of RuthAn important female biblical character with her own book. The Book of Ruth, read on Shavuot, tells the story of Ruth’s devotion to her mother-in-law, Naomi, and their return to Israel. Ruth’s story is often read as the first story of conversion. Ruth is the grandmother of King David. and Naomi,
God of David and Jonathan,
God of JosephJacob's eldest son by his beloved wife, Rachel. Joseph, the dreamer, was his father's favorite and nearly murdered by his brothers. Sold into slavery, he became viceroy of Egypt where he ultimately saves the Egyptians and also his own family from starvation. His Hebrew name is Yosef/,
God of our queer ancestors whose names have been erased,
We ask Your wisdom and love on this day to fill the hearts and minds of our Supreme Court.
May they discern the law with wisdom, may righteousness triumph, may justice roll down.
We implore you, our Creator,
Write trans lives in the Book of Life,
Write us in the Book of livelihood,
Write us in the Book of medical access,
Write us in the Book of protection,
Write us in the Book of Justice,
Write our names in the Book of History,
Write our stories on the world so we will never be forgotten.
