Shehechiyanu

The Shehecheyanu is a prayer that Jews have been saying for over 2000 years to mark special occasions. Tonight, all of us here together is special occasion. Whether Jewish or not, we have come here under a shared belief that everyone is entitled to be free. We all believe that everyone is entitled to certain inalienable rights. We all believe that we must treat our brothers and sisters with common decency. That is special and meaningful.

To mark this special and meaningful occasion, we all join together in the words of the Shehecheyanu:

בָרוּךְ אַתָה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְמָנוּ

וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְמַן הַזֶה

Baruch atah, Adonai, eloheinu melech ha’olam,

shehecheyanu v’kiy’manu v’higiyanu lazman hazeh.

Blessed are you, Adonai, sovereign of all worlds, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this moment.

By Truah: A Rabbinic Call to Action

May it be Your will, at this season of our election, to guide us towards peace.

By voting, we commit to being full members of society, to accepting our individual responsibility for the good of the whole. May we place over ourselves officials in all our gates…who will judge the people with righteousness (Deut 16:18), and may we all merit to be counted among those who work faithfully for the public good.

Open our eyes to see the image of God in all candidates and elected officials, and may they see the image of God in all citizens of the earth.

Grant us the courage to fulfill the mitzvah of loving our neighbors as ourselves, and place in our hearts the wisdom to understand those who do not share our views.

As we pray on the High Holidays, “May we become a united society, fulfilling the divine purpose with a whole heart.”

And as the Psalmist sang, “May there be shalom within your walls, peace in your strongholds. For the sake of my brothers and sisters and friends, I will speak peace to you.” (Ps. 122:7-8)

By Hebrew Helpers

Look to this day, for it is life, the very life of life.

In its brief course lie all the realities and verities of existence,

The bliss of growth, the glory of action, the splendor of achievement,

Are but experiences of time.

For yesterday is but a dream and tomorrow is only a vision

But today, well lived, makes every yesterday a dream of happiness,

and every tomorrow, a vision of hope.

Look well, therefore, to this day.

Such is the salutation to the ever-new dawn!

Kohenet Keshira haLev Fife (https://www.keshirahalev.com) offers eight questions to guide us in reflection as we wind down and look ahead to a new secular year. Inspired by the great teacher, Rabbi Shammai, who starts Hanukkah with eight candles lit and ends with just one candle, this ritual invites us to count down and release as we move toward (and embrace) the darkest part of the year. 

8) What is something you're ready to leave behind this year? 

7) What is something you have less of now than you did at the beginning of the year, that you're glad about? 

6) What is a habit, practice, routine or belief that you have released this year? 

5) What is an obligation that you were able to lay down this year? Is there something you are secretly glad you didn't have to do? 

4) What is something you released that has given new life elsewhere? 

3) What is something you're savoring from this past year that is likely to go away or end when this pandemic time is over? 

2) With all you've let go of this past year, what has it made room for? 

1) What has been the biggest blessing of this time? What do you want to take with you into the new year? 

Kohenet Keshira haLev Fife (https://www.keshirahalev.com) offers eight questions to guide us in reflection as we wind down and look ahead to a new secular year. Inspired by the great teacher, Rabbi Shammai, who starts Hanukkah with eight candles lit and ends with just one candle, this ritual invites us to count down and release as we move toward (and embrace) the darkest part of the year. 

8) What is something you're ready to leave behind this year? 

7) What is something you have less of now than you did at the beginning of the year, that you're glad about? 

6) What is a habit, practice, routine or belief that you have released this year? 

5) What is an obligation that you were able to lay down this year? Is there something you are secretly glad you didn't have to do? 

4) What is something you released that has given new life elsewhere? 

3) What is something you're savoring from this past year that is likely to go away or end when this pandemic time is over? 

2) With all you've let go of this past year, what has it made room for? 

1) What has been the biggest blessing of this time? What do you want to take with you into the new year? 

We hope that the offerings found in this booklet have brought you some peace and comfort on your journey of healing and/or recovery. In closing, we offer this Shehechiyanu, a blessing for the momentous occasion of marking this day, one of many days of tending to yourself and your healing journey. 

בָּרוּך אַתָּה יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶך הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וקְִיְמָּנוּ והְִגִיּעָנוּ לַזְמַן הַזֶה

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melekh ha’olam, shehecheyanu, v’kiyimanu, v’higiyanu la’z’man ha’zeh.

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe who has given us life, sustained us, and allowed us to reach this day.