Shabbat Meditation
August 10, 2012 
3 Comments
I wrote this meditation years ago when I was a member of the Shabbat Committee at Temple B’nai Or in Morristown, N.J. It is meant to be read before L’cha Dodi at Friday evening services.
“Meditation”
Open my heart tonight to welcome Shabbat
in the natural way I did as a child—open, unquestioning, believing.
Leaning against my father,
Shabbat melodies became mine
as the fringes of his tallis slipped through my fingers again and again.
The mixed joys of hugs and handshakes crushing, yet reassuring,
hot tea, the peace of Friday nights.
Let me capture those lost Shabbatot,
their message of belonging.
I give thanks for the friends I see here tonight,
they pull me to community;
they help me to remember.
In their presence I understand the words.
Their meaning becomes part of the Shabbat in me.
“Beloved, come to meet the bride; beloved, come to greet Shabbat.”
What a lovely meditation, evoking a mood well suited to Shabbat! How sweet and special, also, that you continue to belong to the synagogue where you grew up and played with fringes of your father’s tallit…Please keep writing! You obviously have more stories to tell. I’d like to read them. Shabbat Shalom!
Deb
I loved this when you did it, when I chaired the Shabbat Committee and I love it now. It is beautiful. I still belive, your candle blessing, which is still used today, at Temple B’nai Or goes this one step better.
Thank you
Stuart
Debby,
Keep writing; you have an enormous talent. When you feel you have completely covered the subject, collect all the material and submit it to publishers in book form. I believe you will entertain a large audience. Your second blog brought back wonderful memories of times I have spent with your family. I wouldn’t trade those memories for anything in the world. Besides my own family events, the Roods have added great joy to my life. The marvelous thing is they are still doing it.
Love ya.
Norma