Aleynu: Humility/Praise/Vision

Sharing a version of Aleynu that I wrote in June 2020. I was inspired by Joanna Macy’s “Work that Reconnects” and highly recommend the book Coming Back to Life by Joanna Macy and Molly Brown, which provides wonderful exercises for re-awakening our capacity to hope and to transform our world. Be in touch through my contact form if you would like a pdf version to print and use in your community

עָלֵֽינוּ לְשַׁבֵּֽחַ Aleynu leshabeach

It’s up to us to praise the One

May we open ourselves to beauty and wonder

May we care deeply for one another, near and far, honoring the web of life

May we shed abundant tears to honor all the loss and devastation in our world

May we honor our ancestors and receive their blessing

May we overcome our fear of death

May we learn to see with new eyes, to open to new possibilities

May we each be empowered to give the best of our gifts

May our human family empower leaders for their wisdom and compassion

May we know our resilience as a species that has survived many plagues, wars, famines and other hardships

May we restore our capacity to live sustainably with our Earth Mother

May we grow our courage to undo racist beliefs and racist systems, to hear the cries of the oppressed, and to be a force for love, truth, and justice

May our love for one another overcome the forces that try to divide us.

May we know and proclaim that we are One.

כַּכָּתוּב בְּתוֹרָתֶֽךָ יְיָ יִמְלֹךְ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד

וְנֶאֱמַר וְהָיָה יְיָ לְמֶֽלֶךְ עַל כָּל הָאָֽרֶץ בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יִהְיֶה יְיָ אֶחָד וּשְמוֹ אֶחָד

Kakatuv betorateha adonay yimloh le’olam va’ed.

Vene’emar: Vehayah adonay lemeleh al kol ha’aretz.

Bayom hahu yihyeh adonay ehad ushmo ehad.