As Judy and I prepare for Chanting Shabbat, I must stop to take in the amazing sunset: stripes of fiery pink and deepening blue against the blackened outline of wind-waving branches. Like the dramatic sunset drew me, we are now in a time that's getting our attention. How then shall we apply our attention? Have you noticed more intention in your actions? What qualities and attitudes shall we choose to give our attention to as we take our intentional actions?
This Shabbat we read Vayikra (And God called), the first parsha of Leviticus, regarding laws of sacrifice, or Korbanot, which actually means bringing ourselves near to God. In our time, prayer takes the place of sacrifices. Prayer has the power to bring us close to our Source.
Our chants are prayers, chosen with intentions or Kavanot, as (w)holy medicine for our human tendencies. Chanting helps us go deeper inside, where we can more calmly connect in our God house and receive the Great Love that connects us all.
In these days, our challenges and concerns, fears and worries, might close us off from the flow of Great Love. Vayikra is the call to come into harmony, balance, connection and intimacy with the God who freed us for this Love, and to continually return/teshuvah ~ with our intentional attention~ to our connected selves that know abiding peace, love, joy, gratefulness, in the midst of our new activities.
Join us as we gather, gratefully with Zoom technology, bringing our attention together for an uplifting evening of chanting prayers, to help strengthen and magnify our intentions as we call to the God of our understanding and, even in what seem to be dark times, find protection in our upright hearts, with gratefulness, hope, and faith.
Shabbat Shalom,
Stephanie Sofie Shefia Cohen
Thank you to my teacher Rabbi Shefa Gold for her book Torah Journeys.
Instructions to join Chanting Kabbalat Shabbat
To join the Service tonight, Friday, March 27, at 7:30pm MT via ZOOM, enter the Meeting ID 515-340-6890 in ZOOM; OR email Judy Brown before 7:00 pm at judychants2020@gmail.com for and email containing a link to join in. Set up your ZOOM account ahead of time at: https://zoom.us/signup