Preserve the memory of your loved one with a plaque on our Yahrzeit Wall. Learn More ->

Search
Close this search box.

Taking Ownership of Tefillah

Introduction

Shalom Aleichem. When I say my prayers I prefer to be able to take ownership of my actions. I don’t like to hear “and you will do this because I am your G-d.” I became disinterested in prayer when I was forced to say things I didn’t believe, when I felt like I was being watched and commanded. But I didn’t want to miss out on a prayer experience that felt authentically Jewish; I didn’t want to depart too much in format from the traditional tefillot.

With this in mind I have thought long and hard about wording and I came up with a style of wording that I believe is in the first person plural active voice—the “we” form. I apply it here to the Shema, and plan to use this new style to reword other prayers. In this reimagined version, we are deciding what we want to keep and how we want to do our mitzvot; nobody is telling us how to do it.

This format for keeps me engaged with our G-d concept. We continue to be Am Yisrael—the people who wrestle with G-d—but we remove the connotation of a hierarchical patriarchal deity.


Shema

(For now I introduce the English wording as I am still working on the grammatical changes needed in Hebrew.)

Shema yisrael Adonai eloheinu Adonai ehad.
We Israel listen, Adonai, our concept of the Divine, Adonai is One.

Barukh shem k’vod malkhuto le’olam va’ed.
Blessed is the glorious name of divine governance in the universe forever. 

V’ne’e’hav et Adonai eloheinu b’khol l’vaveinu u v’khol nafsheinu u v’khol me’odeinu.
And we will love Adonai, our concept of the Divine, with all our hearts, and with all our souls, and with all our being. 

Facebook
Email

Ritualwell content is available for free thanks to the generous support of readers like you! Please help us continue to offer meaningful content with a donation today. 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Rituals

The Reconstructionist Network

Serving as central organization of the Reconstructionist movement

Training the next generation of groundbreaking rabbis

Modeling respectful conversations on pressing Jewish issues

Curating original, Jewish rituals, and convening Jewish creatives

Join author Evonne Marzouk to find ways to strengthen your experience as a spiritual being, expand your consciousness and deepen your ability to be present. Through study and creative writing, you’ll take away new strategies to use in daily life. 

Hope you’ll join us!

Get the latest from Ritualwell

Subscribe for the latest rituals, online learning opportunities, and unique Judaica finds from our store.

The Reconstructionist Network