Ritual & Liturgy:
Shabbat Amidah

Submitted by Leila Gal Berner
email address: LGBerner@aol.com

Meditations for the seven paragraphs of the Shabbat Amidah

The Amidah is the "standing prayer," which on Erev Shabbat (Friday evening) traditionally is recited silently or in a whisper while standing. It is a time of quiet reflection as well as a time to think about the themes of the seven paragraphs of the Amidah. During the week, the Amidah consists of eighteen paragraphs (indeed, it is sometimes known as the "Shemoneh Esreh" -- the 18 Benedictions). On Shabbat, the Amidah is shortened and changed for many reasons. Two reasons are: a) that on Shabbat, we should not "petition" God -- we should not ask for anything specific. Rather, we should enjoy the serenity of Shabbat, bask in the quiet beauty of a day of rest and breathe in God's Presence through rest and prayer, meditation, song and communion with our family and friend; b) the seven paragraphs of the Shabbat Amidah symbolize the seven days of the week -- the six days of Creation along with the seventh day -- Shabbat.

You are invited to spend a few moments on each (or just one or two) of the paragraphs of the Amidah. Below, you will find a brief explanation of each paragraph's themes and some suggestions as to paths for prayer and meditation. These are only suggestions. Please feel free to wander wherever your mind and your heart may take you.

The opening words:

Adonai sefatai tiftach u-fi yagid t'hilatecha
Open up my lips, O God, so that my mouth may declare Your praise.

Take a moment to think about speech; the words that you use when you are trying most sincerely to express what is in your heart. How can you best say what you mean and mean what you say?

Paragraph 1: AVOT: Recalling our ancestors

In our Jewish tradition, we always look back into history and deeply value the concept of dor l'dor -- "from generation to generation." This is the place in our prayer service when we recall our history -- the great chain of human tradition that makes up the Jewish people. We begin with our most ancient mothers and fathers -- the first three generations of our people.

Take a few moments to think about your parents, your grandparents, distant relatives about whom you may have heard stories. Do you feel a connection with them? What parts of you do you think come from them?

Paragraph 2: GEVUROT: Divine Power

This paragraph addresses God's part in the creation and unfolding of the natural universe. As we pray, we appreciate the wonder of the universe and the cycle of the seasons -- dew in the Summer and wind and rain in the Fall. We also recall the cycles of Life and Death. We sustain life and embrace death as a part of life.

Think about the cycles of your life -- the age that you are at now, the state of your physical being, your body. What "season" are you in at this moment in your life? Can you connect to the natural world of God's creation with greater or lesser ease now? How might you get more "in touch" with Nature and thereby, with God?

Paragraph 3: KEDUSHAT HA-SHEM: Naming the Holy

This paragraph addresses Holiness that is in the universe, and acknowledges that naming that which is holy to us gives us power to be in relationship with holiness.

There are as many names and images for the Divine as there are people with imaginations. What is holy to you? How do you name holiness? Is holiness God or Nature or people? What is holy within you?

Paragraph 4: KEDUSHAT HA-YOM: The Day's Holiness

The theme of this paragraph is to acknowledge, appreciate and celebrate the gift of Shabbat -- a day of rest and tranquility -- a day which cosmically symbolizes the culmination of Creation. This is a day on which we should let our own creative powers rest, a day on which we should allow quiet and joy, peace and serenity to fill our hearts and replensih our souls. This is not a day "to do;" this is a day "to be."

Consider your own creative power. Think about the work you have done in the week that has passed, and feel your own pride in that work. Then, try to set it aside. Try not to think about the creative work ahead next week. Rather, take a few long, deep breaths, slow down, and enjoy the chance for rest that Shabbat brings.

Paragraph 5: AVODAH: Service and prayer

In ancient times, "service" and "prayer" were all connected to the Temple in Jerusalem and the practice of animal sacrifice as the cultic expression of our people's connection to God. Today, we no longer sacrifice animals -- and the paths we take to communicating with or connecting with God are many. This paragraph expresses the wish that we will find our way to God (and God will find His/Her/Its way to us) and that the many pathways we take will be "acceptable."

Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel once said that when he marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Selma, Alabama his "feet were praying." How do you pray? What are your best pathways to a closer connection to God? Through traditional prayer, through a walk in the woods, through meditation and reflection? Through song? Through social action work? What does "service" mean to you?

Paragraph 6: MODIM: Giving thanks

This paragraph offers gratitude for being alive, for our ability to experience joy and pain, awe and wonder.

Think back on some moments when you felt most alive, when you were filled with awe and wonder, when you felt deep joy or profound pain, when you felt most energetic or excited or nervous,or even fearful. How did these moments feel to you? How can you best give thanks for the great gift of Life?

Paragraph 7: BIRKAT HA-SHALOM: A Blessing for Peace

Throughout our history, the Jewish people has experienced the tragedy of war and violence, displacement and exile. And in our own times, though we have our own homeland, the State of Israel, it is a land that has never experienced a moment of true peace since its birth as a nation. This paragraph addresses the Jewish people's millenia-old longing for true peace -- for us and for all peoples of the earth. As Israeli, Arab and Palestinian leaders sit down to "talk peace," we pray that their deliberations are successful. The road to peace is a long and arduous one. We pray that we all will reach our hoped-for "destination" -- speedily and in our time.

(end with YIHIYU L'RATZON -- May the words. . . )