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Frederick L. Klein

Special Prayer for Shabbat Candle Lighting, Parashat Bereishit, 5784

Courtesy of Pixabay images (https://pixabay.com/photos/shabbat-shalom-shabbat-shalom-4752553/)

The Earth was a vacant abyss, with darkness on the surface of the watery depths, and a great wind blowing on the surface of the water. – Genesis 1:2

As we enter the first Shabbat of the year, and we read the opening chapter of Bereishit/Genesis, our hearts feel like the Earth’s primordial dark void – a chaotic and terrifying abyss. Our people – families and friends, brothers and sisters – are caught in a stormy tempest of uncertainty and fear. Following the joyful heights of the Jewish holidays, we have suddenly been thrust to confront forces of darkness so heinous, so evil, that we find ourselves shuddering in disbelief. The jarring images of the past days have forced us to confront depths of hatred and sickening inhumanity. The world we believed we knew has returned to blackness.

How do we cope? How do we respond? The same way God does. To the darkness, God proclaims, “Let there be light!” – the first act of creation, the first act of blessing in this world. We too will light our Shabbat candles, countering the darkness in the world and in our hearts.

Like God, we will double down, destroying a cult of doom – of death and evil. As we light our Shabbat candles, we commit ourselves to the Jewish vision of bringing light and life into this world. We recommit to the light of the Jewish people, bringing illumination to our families, our community and to the world.

Please, God, as we enter your holy Shabbat day, please bring all of us the protection we need, sheltering all of the Jewish people under Your canopy of peace. Execute judgment on those whose actions have desecrated Your holy name through desecrating the image of God. Provide comfort to the mourners, safety to our IDF soldiers in the fight and a safe return to those taken hostage.

“For each mitzvah is a candle, the Torah a great light.” – Proverbs 6:23

Our candle lighting is a prelude to action. We will increase our Jewish commitments, our Jewish giving and our solidarity with the Jewish people wherever they may be. We will come together to pray, to learn, to mourn and to support one another. We will resolutely increase our acts of kindness and ultimately overcome the acts of wanton cruelty we have seen. We will continue in our timeless mission to be a light unto the world. In this merit, may God respond to all our heartfelt prayers.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, sovereign of the universe, who has sanctified us with commandments, commanding us to kindle the light of Shabbat.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה‘ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל שַׁבָּת

Baruch Ahtah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Ha-olam, asher k’dishanu bemitzvotav vetzeevanu lehhadlik ner shel Shabbat

– Rabbi Frederick L. Klein

About the Author
Fred Klein is Director of Mishkan Miami: The Jewish Connection for Spiritual Support, and serves as Executive Vice President of the Rabbinical Association of Greater Miami. In this capacity he oversees Jewish pastoral care support for Miami’s Jewish Community, train volunteers in friendly visiting and bikkur cholim, consult with area synagogues in creating caring community, and organize conferences on spirituality, illness and aging. As director of the interdenominational Rabbinical Association of Greater Miami, Fred provides local spiritual leadership with a voice in communal affairs. He has taught at and been involved with the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, Drisha Institute for Jewish Education, Hebrew College of Boston, the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School, CLAL– The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, and the Shalom Hartman Institute. He is Vice President for the Rabbinic Cabinet of the Jewish Federations of North America, former Chair of the Interfaith Clergy Dialogue of the Miami Coalition of Christians and Jews, and formerly served on the Board of the Neshama: the Association of Jewish Chaplains.
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