On this ShabbatShabbat is the Sabbath day, the Day of Rest, and is observed from Friday night through Saturday night. Is set aside from the rest of the week both in honor of the fact that God rested on the seventh day after creating the world. On Shabbat, many Jews observe prohibitions from various activities designated as work. Shabbat is traditionally observed with festive meals, wine, challah, prayers, the reading and studying of Torah, conjugal relations, family time, and time with friends. as we gather to celebrate Pride and pray together, let us take a moment to reflect on why some people and connections are respected or recognized by law while others are not. May our community honor our diversity including Trans folks, single people, friendships, non-monogamous relationships, interfaith unions, and other sexual intimacies. In the spirit of tikkun olamLit. Repair of the world According to Jewish mysticism, the world is in a broken state. Humanity's job is to join God, as God's partners, in its repair., we hope & pray for more inclusion. May the day soon arrive when respect and civil rights are freely granted regardless of who we are or how we choose to live our lives.
בְּרוּכָה אַתְּ יָהּ אֱלוֹהֵינוּ רוּחַ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְשָׁתְנוּ בְּמַצּוֹתֶיהָ וְצִוַּתְנוּ לִרְדֹּף צֶדֶק וּלְכַבֵּד כָּל נֶפֶשׁ וְשֻׁתָּפוּת
B’rukhah At YahA name for God, as in "halleluyah" – praise God. Some people prefer this name for God as a non-gendered option., Eloheynu, RuakhLit. Spirit. Some new versions of blessings call God "Spirit of the World" (Ruakh Ha’olam), rather than "King of the World" (Melekh Ha'olam). ha-olam, asher kidshatnu bemitzvoteha
vetzivatnu lirdof tzedek, u’likhabed kol nefesh v’shutafut
You are Blessed, O God, Spirit of the World, who makes us holy with your mitzvotLit. Commandment. It is traditionally held that there are 613 mitzvot (plural) in Judaism, both postive commandments (mandating actions) and negative commandments (prohibiting actions). Mitzvah has also become colloquially assumed to mean the idea of a “good deed."
and commands us to pursue justice and honor all people and connections.
Adapted by Devin Pastika & Susie Kisber from a prayer written by Susie Kisber & Mano Marks. Hebrew prayer adapted from Social Action Blessings distributed by the Commission of Social Action of Reform Judaism with Hebrew help from Rabbi Jane Litman and Rabbi Roni Handler, editor of www.ritualwell.org
