An Interpretive and Abbreviated AmidahLit. Standing One of the central prayers of the Jewish prayer service, recited silently while standing. for Daily DaveningLit. Pray (Yiddish) Particularly, praying in a traditional manner, mouthing the words of the prayer softly while swaying. during Pride Month
Eternal One, open my lips, and let the words that leave them bring you glory.
Here you may add “Wherever there is Pride” by Brasha Smith. After this addition, you may either continue with the Predecessors, or skip to the second prayer, Equality.
א – Predecessors
Blessed are all those who came before me; those living, and those lost, to AIDS, Social Injustice or any other means,
Blessed be Matthew Shepherd,
Blessed be Marsha P Johnson
Blessed be Harvey Milk
Blessed be Sylvia Rivera,
Blessed be Drew Shafer
Blessed be Pulse Nightclub,
and Blessed be Club Q,
May these names be those we remember, when we go to the court and fight for our rights. May these names be those we remember when we are faced with violence. May these names be the ones we remember when we are faced with illness and death. And May these names be on our tongue when we march in the streets for our freedom to live and love openly.
Between Rosh HashanahThe Jewish New Year, also considered the Day of Judgment. The period of the High Holidays is a time of introspection and atonement. The holiday is celebrated with the sounding of the shofar, lengthy prayers in synagogue, the eating of apples and honey, and round challah for a sweet and whole year. Tashlikh, casting bread on the water to symbolize the washing away of sins, also takes place on Rosh Hashana. and 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., add:
We shall honor them, and their memory, in this time of repentance and prayer, for all they have done for us.
May our actions be for good and lasting change, and may that change bring a sense of togetherness around the world, whether we are together or apart.
If you choose, you may add:
מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ אֶת אֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְאִמּוֹתֵינוּ, יְבָרֵךְ וְיִזְכּוֹר אֶת כָּל אֵלֶּה שֶׁאִבְּדָנוּ, כָּל אֵלֶּה בְּקְהִילָּתֵנוּ, לְשִׂנְאָה, לְאַלִּימוּת וּלְמִלְחָמָה. שֶׁנִּזְכֹּר אוֹתָם בְּלִבֵּנוּ לְעַד, וְשִׁיָּנוּחוּ בְּשָׁלוֹם לְנֵצַח נְצָחִים. אָמֵן.
Mi sheberakh et avoteinu ve’imoteinu, yevarekh ve’izkor et kol ele she’ibedanu, kol ele bek’hilatenu, lesin’ah, le’alimut ul’milchamah. She’nizkor otam be’libeinu le’ad, veshinu’khu b’shalom lenetzach netzachim. Amen.
May the one who blessed our Fathers and our Mothers, bless and remember all those we have lost, all those in our Community, to hatred, violence, and war. May we remember them in our hearts forever, and may they rest in peace, forever and ever. Amen.
ב –Equality
Our fight is one of equality, not superiority. May that fight be fruitful for all, not just for some; not just us.
in summer: May we march together in community, in rain or shine, for the world we want to see.
in winter: May those who fight for our cause be as numerous as the snowflakes that fall.
May we see the world we desire swiftly, and in our days, and may our children, and our children’s children live in a society where there is no “other”; only an “us”.
Between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, add:
For who, in this time of repentance, can say they have not wronged someone because of prejudice?
And so, let equality branch out over our world, our country, and our people, and may it reach to all the peoples of the world.
נ – Justice
May we see the day when those who have acted against us are brought to justice, and those who opposed us are shown the error or their ways. May those who seek to harm or destroy us be dealt with, in a just and equal manner, and may we remember those who were harmed because of senseless hate and violence.
ד – Health
May the medical community find a cure for the illnesses that ail us; gay or straight, male or female or beyond the pale, illness does not discriminate, and strikes all with a vengeance. May our doctors treat us with compassion, and may those who did not live to see a cure be honored when a cure is found.
ה – Love
May we be a people, a community, a gathering of love; love for ourselves, love for our neighbors, love for the generations past, and love for the generations to come. May we find love for those who have wished us harm, and may we find a greater love in the community that holds us dear. May we know a day when the world no longer knows violence or hate. And may it be so.
ו – Solidarity
May we, members of a marginalized community stand with other marginalized communities, for the better of the world around us. May we know the support of others in our time of need, and may others feel our presence when they need it most. May we know the time when that Solidarity is no longer vital to our survival.
ז – Peace
May those we’ve lost, to war, violence, illness, hate or nature know peace, in this life, and whatever comes after. May their memory live in our hearts, and may we honor them with our lives and our actions.
Concluding Prayers:
ריבונו של עולם – Sovereign of AllMaster of All, Creator of All,Watcher of All,If you are there,Answer my desire to doAll that is good in your sight.Grant my hope to be used for your work.Use me for tiqun olam, repairing the world.Use me for Justice, and Peace.And most importantly,Use me as a face of love,And peace for the bettermentOf the world.May you,Who creates all,Sees all,Knows all,And watches all,Watch over me as I go outIn the world to make it a better place.And let me say,Amen.עלינו – AleinuPrayer proclaiming God’s kingship, said near the conclusion of the prayer service.It is on us,To gratify you name,To praise your creation,And to honor your world.So we bend and bow,And we show deference.For you are G-d.
