This year has been an extremely difficult one for me. My 13 year-old son, the love of my life, returning from a summer visit with his father, announced to me that he wanted to go and live with him at the end of the school year. He said this with no anger, no malice, no hurtfulness. He reassured me that he loved me, that he knew I loved him , that no-one knew his heart better, and that the lessons I had taught him would carry him through this monumental transition. I was not as composed. Panic, fear, loss, grief, anger, sadness, resentment, desperation. It felt like I was drowning while everyone around me was watching, helplessly.
Tag Archives: Modeh Ani
How Jews Wake-Up: Modeh Ani
The first instruction in the Code of Jewish Law is: “Be strong as a lion when you wake-up in the morning to serve your Creator.” Here is the blessing on waking-up, to be said before you get out of bed:
Hebrew:
.מודה אני לפניך מלך חי וקיים, שהחזרת בי נשמתי בחמלה; רבה אמונתך
Transliteration:
Modeh Ani L’fanecha
Melech Chai V’kayam
Shehechezarta Bi Nishmati B’chemla
Raba Emunatecha
Translation:
I offer thanks to You,
Eternal One,
for lovingly restoring my soul to me;
Your faithfulness is great.
* the first word of the blessing is gender-specific: modeh for a man, modah for a woman.
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