Unbinding the Akeidah: A Rosh Hashanah Prayer for Survivors of Trauma and Abuse

Here we stand,
Daughters and sons of Abraham.
But are we bound to the same grave fate?
Hands tied and face to face with our parent’s blade?
With only the angels and our own blind obedience to save us from demise.
We were so young and unknowing at the time.
Oh, G-d of wounded children, custodian of the anguished’s cries.
Shelter us.
Assure us.
That there is no leap of faith, let alone no gesture of loyalty so great that it outweighs the sting of our tears and the recognition of our pain.
Allow us to find a better meaning, a fuller meaning of Torah’s words in which children are not only seen but heard.
And as we seek meaning from our tradition, may we release the binds of old stories, redeeming Isaac and redeeming ourselves.
Amen.

Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on email
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Your email address will not be published.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

Shop Ritualwell - Discover unique Judaica products

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

Jewish Spiritual Autobiography

 Writing a spiritual autobiography helps you to discover how teachers, touchstones, symbols and stories have led you to make meaning and understand the sacred in your personal story. In this immersion, join Ritualwell’s Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer, a writer and spiritual director, to map out and narrate your most sacred life experiences. Four sessions starting May 16, 2024. 

Get the latest from Ritualwell

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

The Reconstructionist Network