Acheinu

I've heard this song enough times to be able to hum it, but I never learned the lyrics. Now, I have no choice. 😢

https://zemirotdatabase.org/view_song.php?id=19#rec

Acheinu אַחֵינוּ

Acheinu kol beit yisrael,

Acheinu kol beit yisrael, han'tunim b'tzara, b'tzara uvashivyah, haomdim bein bayam uvein bayabasha. Hamakom Y'racheim, Y'racheim Aleihem v'yotziem mitzara lirvacha, um'afaila l'orah umishiabud lig'ulah, hashta ba'agala uvizman kariv.

אַחֵינוּ כָּל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, הַנְּתוּנִים בְּצָרָה וּבַשִּׁבְיָה, הָעוֹמְדִים בֵּין בַּיָּם וּבֵין בַּיַּבָּשָׁה, הַמָּקוֹם יְרַחֵם עֲלֵיהֶם, וְיוֹצִיאֵם מִצָּרָה לִרְוָחָה, וּמֵאֲפֵלָה לְאוֹרָה, וּמִשִּׁעְבּוּד לִגְאֻלָּה, הַשְׁתָּא בַּעֲגָלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב.

Translation:

As for our brothers,​ the whole house of Israel, who are given over to trouble or captivity​, whether they abide on the sea or on the dry land:

May the All-prese​nt have mercy upon them, and bring them forth from trouble to enlargeme​nt, from darkness to light, and from subjectio​n to redemptio​n, now speedily and at a near time.

Based​ on The Standard Prayer book by Simeon Singer (1915)

Information:

Lyrics: Said after Kriyas Hatorah

 

Acheinu - song by Abie Rotenberg | Spotify.  https://open.spotify.com/track/3xPOFxr5UX2vbKCpHVrxSi

Israel's at war. Where the h--- are the Jews of J. Heights???!

Israel just suffered a pogrom and is now at war, and we couldn't get even 20 people at synagogue this morning.  What are we, an island in a sea of indifference?

P.S. This is the first time in the history of our synagogue that we're recited Avinu Malkenu on Shabbat. 😢

Israel at War: Michael Bloomberg makes "matching" pledge to MDA

Mike Bloomberg to match donations made to Israel's Red Cross [Magen David Adom]: 'Many of us are asking what we can do to help'

Israel at War: Daniel Gordis reports

From an "Israel from the Inside" mailing from Daniel Gordis: "The United Nations has demanded that Israel change is plans “so as to avert disaster.” Most people here think that the whole point is that the disaster already happened."  😢

ISRAEL AT WAR: Ta'anit Tzibbur: A Day of Communal Fasting

Posting on Facebook by Hadar's Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Aviva Richman:

"Today I am fasting, along with hundreds of others in the community, out of desperation for what is happening in Israel and Gaza.

My fasting expresses two things. When Jacob faced his brother Esau, he was "very afraid" and "distressed." (Genesis 32:8) ויירא יעקב מאד ויצר לו

Our tradition teaches that he was "very afraid" of dying. And he was "distressed" that he would come to kill others.

You might think these distinct fears create an inner conflict that leads to the inability to act. Just the opposite. Jacob is not deterred into inaction by these conflicting fears. He takes action in all the ways he can. He prepares for battle, and sends a gift of appeasement, and prays to God.

I am fasting today because I am "very afraid" about my people dying. And I am simultaneously "distressed" about killing innocent others.

These two fears must propel us into action, and inform how we take action in all the ways needed as we insist on defending life, dignity and ultimately peace."

 

https://info.hadar.org/taanit-tzibbur

 

Ta'anit Tzibbur: A Day of Communal Fasting

 

We have a traditional practice for moments like this one: ta'anit tzibbur–a fast that draws in the entire community to unite for deliverance for those in crisis.

We stand in horror as Hamas has taken over 100 Israelis and other citizens hostage, among them infants, toddlers, entire families, the elderly and Holocaust survivors. 

While political and military leaders are pursuing pathways to their release, we have a religious and communal obligation to stand up for the victims and to cry out to God. 

Please join us this Thursday, October 12th, the 27th of Tishrei, for a communal fast day supported by rabbis and leaders from across the Jewish world. The fast will begin at dawn and end at nightfall. Click here for halakhic information about communally-decreed fast days.

We invite you to gather for communal prayer as we join for Minhah this Thursday at 5:45 PM. You can find more information on how to join us, both in-person and online, here.

ISRAEL AT WAR: "Fifteen Hours in Tel Aviv" (Jewish Journal)

I'm trying to bring my blog into some semblance of sync with my Facebook page, where I've been sharing posts for days.  See the article here.

It's that time of year again:  Chol HaMoed. Thanks, Eliana Light, for your delightful Moadim L'Simchah!