Prayers to Open the Heart and Soul for the High Holy Days
To prepare for the High Holy Days, Fresh Ideas reprints five prayers, some unique to Rosh Hashanah, Kol Nidrey and Yom Kippur liturgy and some that are used during both the high holy days and during the year, from Marcia Falk’s book "The Days Between: Blessings, Poems, and Directions of the Heart for the Jewish High Holiday Season," published in the HBI Series on Jewish Women. In her book, Falk recreates the holiday's key prayers from an inclusive perspective, often accompanying them with quotes from the Psalms and prophets.
Lighting the Candles for Rosh Hashana
Rise up, shine for your light is here. — Isaiah 60:1
May our hearts be lightened,
our spirits born anew >
as we light the holiday candles
and greet the newborn year.
Blessing the Children
The squares of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing. — Zechariah 8:5
(The child’s name) —
Be who you are,
and may you be blessed
in all that you are.
Fruit of the Tree: Apples and Honey
The trees of the field will give forth their fruit. — Leviticus 26:14
Go, eat choice foods and drink sweet drinks and send portions to those who have not provided for themselves, for the day is holy — Nehemiah 8:10
Let us bless the source of life
that swells the tree’s fruit with sweetness.
May the year be sweet as apples dipped in honey
and full as the ripe pomegranate
with blessings.
Tallit: Prayer Shawl
Wrapped in a robe of light, spreading the skies like a canopy. — Psalms 104:2
Enveloped in light, I wrap around me
the widespread wings of the tallit.
Kol Nidrey: All Vows
All vows —
all promises and pledges —
that we have made to ourselves
and that no longer serve
for the good —
may their grip be loosened
that we be present of mind and heart
to the urgency of the hour.
"The Days Between: Blessings, Poems, and Directions of the Heart for the Jewish High Holiday Season"(HBI Series on Jewish Women) by Marcia Falk, makes a great holiday gift or addition to your Jewish library. For more information on the prayers included, visit Brandeis University Press.
Blog compiled by Amy Powell, HBI assistant director.