Episode 54: SPARK - Hanukkah Edition
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S.P.A.R.K. - Hanukkah Edition
Welcome to our second SPARK! A more free-wheeling, connective conversation between our hosts that we hope sparks something new in you. In this SPARK, Eliana, Ellen & Josh explore Hanukkah gematria, rituals that light up our lives, and spiritually exercises for the heart muscle. Plus, we listen to some of our favorite songs for the season!
Are there enough blessings for all of us?
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(3:47) You can read Rav Kook’s “Olat Reiyah” essays here
(6:48) Listen to “Prayer” from Come From Away here
(9:06) Krieger Schechter Day School & Chizuk Amuno Congregation in Baltimore, MD
(9:11) Havdalah - הבדלה - learn more here
(9:26) Listen to a rendition of החגיגה נגמרת - Hachagigah Nigmeret - “The Party is Over'' - by Naomi Shemer here. Find the lyrics (translation and transliteration) for the song here.
(11:24) Listen to “Plowshare Prayer” by Spencer LaJoyce here. Lyrics below:
Dear blessed creator, dear mother, dear savior
Dear father, dear brother, dear holy other
Dear sibling, dear baby, dear patiently waiting
Dear sad and confused, dear stuck and abused
Dear end-of-your-rope, dear worn out and broke,
Dear go-it-alone, dear running from home
Dear righteously angry, forsaken by family
Dear jaded and quiet, dear tough and defiant
I pray that I’m heard
And I pray that this works
I pray if a prayer has been used as a sword
against you and your heart, against you and your word
I pray that this prayer is a plowshare, of sorts
that it might break you open, it might help you grow
I pray that your body gets all that it needs
and if you don’t want healing, I just pray for peace
I pray that your burden gets lighter each day
I pray the mean voice in your head goes away
I pray that you honor the grief as it comes
I pray you can feel all the life in your lungs
I pray that if you go all day being brave
that you can go home, go to bed feeling safe
I pray you’re forgiven, I pray you forgive
I pray you set boundaries and openly live
I pray that you feel you are worth never leaving
I pray that you know I will always believe you
I pray that you’re heard
and I pray that this works
Amen on behalf of the last and the least
On behalf of the anxious, depressed, and unseen
Amen for the workers, the hungry, the houseless
Amen for the lonely and recently spouseless
Amen for the queers and their closeted peers
Amen for the bullied who hold in their tears
Amen for the mothers of little Black sons
Amen for the kids who grow up scared of guns
Amen for the addicts, the ashamed and hungover
Amen for the calloused, the wisened, the sober
Amen for the ones who want life to be over
Amen for the leaders who lose their composure
Amen for the parents who just lost their baby
Amen for the chronically ill and disabled
Amen for the children down at the border
Amen for the victims of our law and order
I pray that you’re heard
and I pray that this works
I pray if a prayer has been used as a sword
against you and your heart, against you and your word
I pray that this prayer is a plowshare, of sorts
(14:42) “Swords and Plowshares” by Yehuda Amichai:
Don't stop after beating the swords into plowshares, don't stop! Go on beating and make musical instruments out of them.
Whoever wants to make war again will have to turn them into plowshares first.
(15:40) Oneg kara l’yom haShabbat - ענֶג קָרָא לְיום הַשַּׁבָּת - We should call Shabbat “Joy” (Josh’s translation). Read the line in context of Shabbat Shacharit here.
(16:16) Nishmat Kol Chai - נִשְׁמַת כָּל חַי - find the full text of this prayer here.
Ilu finu shira kayam, ulshoneinu rinah cahamon galav...ve'eyn anachnu maspikim lehodot lecha.
אִלּוּ פִינוּ מָלֵא שִׁירָה כַּיָּם […] אֵין אֲנַחְנוּ מַסְפִּיקִים לְהודות לְךָ
Were songs to fill our mouths as waters fill the sea, we still wouldn't have enough words to praise G?d for the thousands upon thousands of thousands of things that are done for us every day.
(17:34) Daven - דוון - Yiddish word for prayer.
(17:3) Yakar Jerusalem
(17:53) Pesukei dezimra - פסוקי דזמרה - learn more here
(18:42) Neshima - נְשִׁימָה - breath
Neshama - נְשָׁמָה - soul
(19:09) Chatzi Kaddish - find the full text here. Learn more about the different types of Kaddish here.
L'eila min kol birchata - לְעֵֽלָּא מִן כָּל בִּרְכָתָא - Beyond all earthly words and songs of blessing
(20:04) You can find the “beyOned” Doodly Jew Music Video by Eliana Light here
(21:06)
(22:37) Listen to “A Cock-Eyed Optimist” from South Pacific here
(24:24) Hashkiveinu (evening) - הַשְׁכִּיבֵֽנוּ - learn more here
(24:33) Kavanah - קוונה - intention
(25:23) "Achaddity" - Ellen’s word for oneness
(26:48) Olam Haba - עולם הבא - The World to Come
(27:48) Shalom Rav - שלום רב - learn more here
(28:34) Schmutz - שמוץ - Yiddish word for grime
(33:45) Standing Together
(36:34) Hatorah niknet b’chavurah - הַתּוֹרָה נִקְנֵית אֶלָּא בַּחֲבוּרָה - the Torah is aquired in community (Berachot 63b:12)
(37:29) Ephraim and Menasseh - אפרים ומנשה - learn more here
(40:38) Shefa - שפע - abundance/overflow
(41:15) Hefech - הפך - opposite
(43:02) Dirshuni: Contemporary Women’s Midrash
(43:16) Tamar Biala
(43:23) Vayitar Itzchak L'Hashem l'nochach ishto ki akarah hi vayeater lo Hashem vatahar Rivkah ishto.
וַיֶּעְתַּ֨ר יִצְחָ֤ק לַֽיהֹוָה֙ לְנֹ֣כַח אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ כִּ֥י עֲקָרָ֖ה הִ֑וא וַיֵּעָ֤תֶר לוֹ֙ יְהֹוָ֔ה וַתַּ֖הַר רִבְקָ֥ה אִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃
Isaac pleaded with Hashem on behalf of his wife, because she was barren; and Hashem responded to his plea, and his wife Rebecca conceived. (Genesis 25:21)
(45:16) Pachad Yitzchak - פחד יצחק - Fear of Isaac (name for G?d)
(48:03) חנוכה - Hanukkah
Chinuch - חינוך - education/dedication
Gematria chart:
(49:32) Or - אור - light
(49:41) Raz - רז - secret
*Bonus: Check out RAZA, a unique musical group that explores the feminine voice of Hasidic melodies!
(49:51) Or zaruah latzadik - א֭וֹר זָרֻ֣עַ לַצַּדִּ֑יק - Light is sown for the righteous (Psalms 97:11)
(50:48) Ner Elohim nishmat adam - נֵ֣ר יְ֭הֹוָה נִשְׁמַ֣ת - the soul of a person is the candle for the Holy One (Proverbs 20:27)
(52:06) Learn more about the Hasmonean dynasty here.
(53:43) Watch Rabbi Scott Perlo’s “The Essence of Ritual” here. You can access more ELI Talks here.
(54:59) Ahavah Rabah - אהבה רבה - find full text of the prayer here
V’haer eineinu b’Toratecha v’dabek libeinu b’mitzvotecha v’yached l’vaveinu l’ahavah
וְהָאֵר עֵינֵֽינוּ בְּתוֹרָתֶֽךָ וְדַבֵּק לִבֵּֽנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתֶֽיךָ וְיַחֵד לְבָבֵֽנוּ לְאַהֲבָה
(56:18) Listen to “Grateful” by Daniel Cainer here.