this burnished benchLit. To bless. From the Yiddish ''bentshn.''
ShemaThe most central prayer in Jewish liturgy, the Shema states: "Hear O Israel, the Lord Our God, the Lord is One." These words are written inside mezuzot and t'fillin. It is traditionally said during all major services and when waking and going to sleep. Yisrael
was once a tree when
Hear, O IsraelLit. ''the one who struggles with God.'' Israel means many things. It is first used with reference to Jacob, whose name is changed to Israel (Genesis 32:29), the one who struggles with God. Jacob's children, the Jewish people, become B'nai Israel, the children of Israel. The name also refers to the land of Israel and the State of Israel.
the prayer was dance and
Adonai Eloheinu
there were no pews
The Lord your God
the word was wind
Adonai ekhad
the moon named names
The Lord is one
and the birds’ prayer too
Barukh shem kevod
in our sandaled feet
Blessed be the Lord
married words to heart
Malkhuto
the whole grove sang
King of the universe
and that fallen log
Le’olam va’ed
silent memory now
Forever and ever
let us say
Amen
