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Sep. 19th, 2011 03:14 pmWhat's your favorite part of the Siddur?
It's tough for me to answer, I have so many parts that I deeply engage with. I love so much of the service from Modeh Ani to Adon Olam. But I think I can single out things that are personally special.
I like Birkot Hashachar a lot, even though it's most famous for the problematic shelo asani ishah. The imagery is so vivid, the principle that every part of waking up is worth saying a prayer about. I do say shelo asani ishah, for what it's worth. If anyone, as a woman, finds that hurtful, I'll welcome dialogue on the issue.
I love Az Yashir, this ancient and incredibly beautiful song that we've sung every morning for thousands of years. Singing the Shacharis Az Yashir on Shabbas Shirah, singing it knowing that in a few minutes we'll be singing it again as part of a coherent narrative, singing it knowing that it connects me directly to Moses, is one of the prayer highlights of my year.
I love Atah Chonen in the Shemoneh Esrei. I posted a copy on my dorm room wall for a while and would look at it for inspiration. I am situated within a religious tradition that values intellect, that values hard work and inspiration as the keys to a better world. And so when I recite that daily prayer I thank God not only for providing me with wisdom but for putting me in a place where it's appreciated.
And I love that page at the end of many Siddurim with those assorted random berachos for assorted random occasions. The blessing on seeing a rainbow. The blessing on seeing a thunderstorm. The blessing on eating a new kind of food. The blessing on seeing something unspeakably beautiful in nature. Those blessings are so amazing at teaching you what kinds of gifts we take for granted.
It's tough for me to answer, I have so many parts that I deeply engage with. I love so much of the service from Modeh Ani to Adon Olam. But I think I can single out things that are personally special.
I like Birkot Hashachar a lot, even though it's most famous for the problematic shelo asani ishah. The imagery is so vivid, the principle that every part of waking up is worth saying a prayer about. I do say shelo asani ishah, for what it's worth. If anyone, as a woman, finds that hurtful, I'll welcome dialogue on the issue.
I love Az Yashir, this ancient and incredibly beautiful song that we've sung every morning for thousands of years. Singing the Shacharis Az Yashir on Shabbas Shirah, singing it knowing that in a few minutes we'll be singing it again as part of a coherent narrative, singing it knowing that it connects me directly to Moses, is one of the prayer highlights of my year.
I love Atah Chonen in the Shemoneh Esrei. I posted a copy on my dorm room wall for a while and would look at it for inspiration. I am situated within a religious tradition that values intellect, that values hard work and inspiration as the keys to a better world. And so when I recite that daily prayer I thank God not only for providing me with wisdom but for putting me in a place where it's appreciated.
And I love that page at the end of many Siddurim with those assorted random berachos for assorted random occasions. The blessing on seeing a rainbow. The blessing on seeing a thunderstorm. The blessing on eating a new kind of food. The blessing on seeing something unspeakably beautiful in nature. Those blessings are so amazing at teaching you what kinds of gifts we take for granted.