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זָרַח בַּחשֶׁךְ אוֹר לַיְשָׁרִים
חַנּוּן וְרַחוּם וְצַדִּיק
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To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted… (Kohelet 3:1-2)
לַכּל זְמָן
וְעֵת לְכָל־חֵפֶץ תַּחַת הַשָּׁמָיִם
עֵת לָלֶדֶת וְעֵת לָמוּת
עֵת לָטַעַת וְעֵת לַעֲקוֹר נָטוּעַ
“The LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you.”
– Psalm 84:11-12
כִּי שֶׁמֶשׁ וּמָגֵן יְהוָה אֱלהִים
חֵן וְכָבוֹד יִתֵּן יְהוָה
לא יִמְנַע־טוֹב לַהלְכִים בְּתָמִים
יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת אַשְׁרֵי אָדָם בּטֵחַ בָּךְ
ki shemesh u’magen Adonai Elohim
chen ve’khavod yitten Adonai
lo yimna-tov la’holekhim be’tamim
Adonai tzeva’ot ashrei adam bote’ach bakh
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The Eternal is our refuge, our “dwelling place,” in all generations, and that means in the present generation as well, on the other side of fleeting appearances of this world. When we pray to God as Avinu She-bashamayim, “Our Father in Heaven,” we are calling to the One (שֶׁ) who is in (בּ) the midst of the waters (שָׁמָיִם) of Life. As we contemplate God’s Eternality and power, may we realize the wonder and sanctity of our short time here.