Deborah Anstandig, KI’s gifted Rabbinical Intern, offered this Tehine (a women’s prayer) at morning minyan on Tuesday, December 20. As you reflect on this Tehine, please see the call to action at the bottom to share your reflection, if you so wish. *By Rivke Tiktiner (author), published the book Meineket Rivka in 1609, from which this tehine was taken. The tehine was accessed at the following website.
A Morning Tehine:
Give me a pure, fresh heart
That is not despondent,
So that I may worship You
With all my heart,
And without falsehood,
Not grudgingly or sadly,
But gladly and joyfully,
So that I may carry out Your Commandments
With great happiness….
Let us not crave great houses,
And beautiful clothes,
But let us desire from Your mild hand
Only that which we need,
And let us not set ourselves apart
From those who have nothing,
But unite all good people,
So our children show great respect
To all pious people,
Those who fear You
And love You greatly
And keep Your Commandments,
And earn their keep through their own efforts.
And let us benefit from the merit of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
Moses, Aharon, David, Solomon,
Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, Leah,
Hannah, Abigail,
And other saintly men and women
And pious men and women.
And may we live to see
That is not despondent,
So that I may worship You
With all my heart,
And without falsehood,
Not grudgingly or sadly,
But gladly and joyfully,
So that I may carry out Your Commandments
With great happiness….
Let us not crave great houses,
And beautiful clothes,
But let us desire from Your mild hand
Only that which we need,
And let us not set ourselves apart
From those who have nothing,
But unite all good people,
So our children show great respect
To all pious people,
Those who fear You
And love You greatly
And keep Your Commandments,
And earn their keep through their own efforts.
And let us benefit from the merit of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
Moses, Aharon, David, Solomon,
Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, Leah,
Hannah, Abigail,
And other saintly men and women
And pious men and women.
And may we live to see
The Temple rebuilt,
So we may bring sacrifices,
And again go three times a year
To Jerusalem that Holy City
Which you chose to house
Your Divine Presence,
And celebrate to see
The great friendship and love
That You have for all Your people Israel.
For reflection:
- Which words or phrases do you find most evocative?
- What surprises you in this tehine?
If you are keen on sharing your reflections, please email Deborah.
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