Episode 35: Holy Glue (Amidah Middle Blessings 9&10)
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A Deep Dive into the Amidah
Your three regular podcast hosts are back as we continue our deep dive into the Amidah with a blessing that is more like a malediction than a benediction, “against enemies,” and its flipside, “for the righteous.” We do some ancestor empathy work and wrestle with language. Other topics include: theological coattail riding, the Talmudic power couple Bruriah and Rabbi Meir, and of course, holy glue.
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(0:50) Learn more about Svara and their Queer Talmud Camp here.
(2:45) Refuah Shlema – רפואה שלמה – a wish for complete healing. Learn more here.
(2:59) Learn more about B’nai Torah Congregation here.
(3:03) Learn more about Beth Sholom Synagogue here.
(3:06) Learn more about Camp Ramah Darom here.
(3:56) Tzadik – צדיק – righteous person
(3:59) Chasid – חסיד – person of lovingkindness
(7:44)
ולרשעה אל תהי תקווה והתועים אילך ישובו ומלכות זדון מהרה תשבר ברוך אתה ה שובר רשע מין הארץ
V’larasha al t’hi tikvah v’hatoim eilecha yashuvu u’malchut zadon mehera teshaber. Baruch Atah Adonai shover rasha min ha’aretz.
And for wickedness, let there be no hope, and may all the errant be returned to You, and may the realm of wickedness be shattered. Blessed are You, Adonai, whose will it is that the wicked vanish from the earth. (Mishkan T’fillah, page 88)
(12:15)
למינים ולמלשינים אל תהי תקווה, וכל הזדים כרגע יאבדו. וכל אויביך וכל שונאיך מהרה יכרתו, ומלכות הרשעה מהרה תעקר, ותשבר, ותכלם, ותכנים במהרה וימנו. ברוך אתה ה שובר אויבים ומכניע זדים
V’laminim v’lameshinim al tehi tikvah, v’chol hazedim carega yovedu. V’chol oyvecha v’chol sonecha mehera yekaretu, u’malchut harisha mehera teaker, v’teshaber, v’techalem, v’tachnim bimhera v’yamenu. Baruch atah Adonai, shover oyvim u’machnia zedim. (Kabbalistic Siddur)
(14:25)
ולמלשינים אל תהי תקווה, וכל הרשעה כרגע תאבד, וכל אויביך מהרה יכרתו, והדים מהרה תעקר, ותשבר, ותמגר, ותכניע במהרה וימנו. ברוך אתה ה, שובר אויבים ומכניע זדים
V’lamshlinim al tehi tikvah, v’chol harisha kerega toved, v’chol oyvecha mehera yekaretu, v’hazedim mehera teaker, v’teshaber, v’tegamer, v’tachnia bimhera v’yamenu. Baruch atah Adonai, shover oyvim u’machnia zedim.
Frustrate the hopes of all those whom align us. To us let all evil very soon disappear. Let all your enemies soon be destroyed. May You quickly uproot and crush the arrogant. May You subdue and humble them in our time. Praised are You, Lord who humbles the arrogant. (Sim Shalom Siddur)
(15:17)
May there be no hope for slanderers, and may all wickedness instantly perish, and may all your enemies quickly be destroyed. May you quickly uproot, smash, destroy and humble the insolent quickly in our day. Blessed are You Adonai, who smashes his enemies and humbles the insolent.
(16:59) Learn more about Rabban Gamliel, Yavneh, and Shmuel HaKatan.
(17:57) Learn more about the Aleinu here.
(21:39) Watch The American President here.
(22:07) Learn more about geniza – גניזה – here.
(22:18) Lameshumadim – למשומדים – apostates.
(22:31) V’hanotzrim – והנוצרים – and the Christian people.
(25:23) Tzedakah u’mishpat – צדקה ומשפט – charity and righteousness
(26:12) The story of Bruriah and her husband Rabbi Meir comes from tractate Brachot 10a versus 2-4 which you can read here.
(27:00) Learn more about Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg here.
(27:50) Learn more about Elohai Neshama here.
(28:07) Tzelem – צלם – image. In this context, Ellen is referencing the phrase בצלם אלהים B’tzelem Elohim – in the image of G?d. Learn more here.
עַל־הַצַּדִּיקִים וְעַל־הַחֲסִידִים וְעַל־זִקְנֵי עַמְּ֒ךָ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל וְעַל פְּלֵיטַת סוֹפְ֒רֵיהֶם וְעַל גֵּרֵי הַצֶּֽדֶק וְעָלֵֽינוּ יֶהֱמוּ רַחֲמֶֽיךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ וְתֵן שָׂכָר טוֹב לְכָל הַבּוֹטְ֒חִים בְּשִׁמְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת וְשִׂים חֶלְקֵֽנוּ עִמָּהֶם לְעוֹלָם וְלֹא נֵבוֹשׁ כִּי בְךָ בָּטָֽחְנוּ: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה מִשְׁעָן וּמִבְטָח לַצַּדִּיקִים
Al hatzadikim ve’al hachasidim, v’al ziknei amcha beit yisrael, v’al pleitat sofreihem, v’al girei hatzedek, v’aleinu, yehemu na rachamecha, Adonai Eloheinu, v’ten sachar tov l’chol habotchim b’shimcha b’emet, v’sim chelkeinu imahem, u’leolam lo nevosh, ki vecha batachnu. Baruch atah Adonai, mishan u’mivtach latzadikim.
May Your compassion, Adonai our God, flow to the righteous, the pious, the leaders of the people, Israel, the remnants of the sages, the righteous and us all. May all those who trust in your name be truly rewarded, and may our share be among them so that we never be shamed for trusting in you. Baruch Atah Adonai, promise and support of the righteous. (From Sim Shalom Siddur)
Toward the righteous, toward the pious toward the leaders of your people, Israel, toward those who choose sincerely to be Jews, and toward us all. May Your tender mercies be stirred. Adonai, grant a good reward to all who trust in Your name and number us among them. Blessed Adonai the staff and the stay of the righteous. (From Mishkan T’filah Siddur)
(37:46) Devekut – דבקות – closeness to G?d. Learn more here.
(42:07) Learn more about Abudraham here.
(42:50) Learn more about Ahavah Rabbah here and the text of the prayer here.
(45:35) Read the story by Reb Simcha Bunam of Przysucha here.
(46:29) You can find When Bad Things Happen to Good People by Harold Kushner here.
(49:30) Learn more about lamed vavniks here.
(50:09) Learn more about Danny Siegel here.