I hated praying. As kids, we used to sit for hours at the synagogue, in school, and every morning reading words I didn’t care about and probably didn’t understand. I’d stare at the Hebrew pages and will myself to focus. Often, I got lost in my own thoughts and wished to be somewhere else. Reading about temples and sacrifices made 2,000 years ago did nothing to tickle my fancy.
Writing is a kind of prayer. And whatever you have been taught, the prayer is not in the Siddur. When I get lost in the liturgy (High Holy Days) I try to remember Moses' simple prayer for his sister: "Please God, heal her." No theology needed for this type of communication, that really does span all beliefs.
You do a great job communicating your struggle, wrestling with the meaning and value of prayer, and threaded the tension through the whole piece. Nicely done!
"It'd be meaningful to get a little bored. I ain't praying. What will happen in stillness? I simply needed to pray."
Praying
This is beautiful and takes many us into your thoughts which are not so far probably what others don't verbalize.
Beautiful share, Y. I loved reading the intimate moment of you observing your mom praying and how you found that touch of peace for yourself too ❤️
Love this piece Yehudis. The contrast from the speed of light in your need to see everything against the slowness of the sounds of prayer, moved me.
The brain needs to do nothing to get the creative neuro-juices flowing, which you clearly did!
Writing is a kind of prayer. And whatever you have been taught, the prayer is not in the Siddur. When I get lost in the liturgy (High Holy Days) I try to remember Moses' simple prayer for his sister: "Please God, heal her." No theology needed for this type of communication, that really does span all beliefs.
Oh, I really love this piece. Thank you so much for sharing your struggle, Yehudis.
‘My brain is constantly chattering away even as I sleep. What will happen in stillness?’ Is something to reflect on.
This piece turned out great Yehudis! I like the connections you make among hate, boredom, peace and stillness.
You do a great job communicating your struggle, wrestling with the meaning and value of prayer, and threaded the tension through the whole piece. Nicely done!
"It'd be meaningful to get a little bored. I ain't praying. What will happen in stillness? I simply needed to pray."
Loved this Yehudis :) felt soothing