Prayer is not an innate gift or hereditary trait, it is a spiritual skill that, like a muscle or instrument, requires practice, repetition, and discovery. Starting August 12, on the four Thursdays that lead up to Rosh Hashanah, Rabbi Ross Levy will lead via Facebook and YouTube Live, a series of warm-ups for our praying selves, so we don’t go into the HHD cold, but already on the path of reflection, repentance, and an openness to crafting who we wish to be in the coming year.

 

Perhaps the most common notion of prayer is looking upwards towards the Divine, Eternal energy of the universe. But nowadays, we also recognize a that this axis also continues downward—encouraging us to reflect on the interconnectedness of all matter as being composed of and connected through the same basic elements.

 

Building from our connection and unity with the physical world, we also know that moments of prayer and reflection give us the opportunity to connect with the people in our many circles. We think of the sacred relationships that surround us—our family, our friends and chosen families, our partners, and others whose connection helps to suffuse our lives with purpose.

 

Jewish tradition reaches into the past to make meaning of the present. The texts of our prayerbook encourage us to call on our historical and spiritual predecessors as guides for our own hopes for the future—whether they be for peace, healing, or a more just world. When we pray we strive to foster connection with the generations who came before us, and set our intentions for how we wish to guide our world into the future.

 

Finally we turn inwards—recognizing the holy of holies within ourselves, the internal us that often hides behind defense mechanisms, protections, and facades that may protect us from pain but too often obscure who we are and who we wish to be. We may come to encounter our inner light and joy that had been obscured; but we may also encounter pain and trauma we continue to carry with us that deserves our compassion and healing.