Filling Words with Light Hasidic and Mystical Reflections on Jewish Prayer [Hardcover]

Breathe New Life into Your Prayer with the Wisdom of Kabbalah and the Hasidic Masters

Jewish mystics teach that every word a person utters in prayer should radiate light. Even the letters of the words of prayer carry sparks of the Divine that yearn to join together in holiness.

In this inspiring spiritual companion, Reform rabbi Lawrence Kushner and Orthodox rabbi Nehemia Polen join together to provide a window into the liturgy for people of all backgrounds by offering fresh insights and meditations that bring the traditional prayerbook to life. Drawing from the Torah,Zoharand ancient and contemporary Hasidic masters, Kushner and Polen reflect on the joy, gratitude, compassion, mystery and awe embedded in traditional prayers and blessings, and show how you can imbue these familiar sacred words with your own sense of holiness.

Insightful, fresh and wise,Filling Words with Lightwill enrich your understanding of the prayer book and guide you on how to put more of yourself into the holy words of the Jewish tradition.

Introduction xi

1. The Blessings of Morning: Birkhot Hashachar
1.1 Awakening 3
1.2 Gratitude 6
1.3 Tents of Jacob 7
1.4 The Manner of Arabs 8
1.5 Fringes 9
1.6 A Sign on Your Hand 11
1.7 The Human Body 13
1.8 Apertures and Organs 15
1.9 Sweet in Our Mouths 17
1.10 No Fixed Measure 19
1.11 Acts of Love 20
1.12 Sacrifices 21
1.13 Rabbi Ishmael 23
2. Verses of Song: Pesukei D'zimrah
2.1 The Hidden God 27
2.2 Decrees 29
2.3 Tears of God 31
2.4 Serving in Joy 33
2.5 The Eternal Name 35
2.6 Generations 37
2.7 Those Who Fall 38
2.8 Gods Majesty 39
2.9 Every Soul 40
2.10 Song at the Sea 42
2.11 Remnant of a Melody 43
3. The Shema and Its Blessings: Shema Uvirkhoteha
3.1 Blessing 47
3.2 Light 49
3.3 Commandments 52lc^