Episode 64: Shabbat at Home - Hand Washing
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Shabbat at Home: Hand Washing
This week, in our Shabbat at Home series, Eliana and Josh explore the hand washing. Topics include taking ownership over rituals, the act of giving and receiving to and of ourselves, and
hand washing as a mikvah moment. Plus, we listen to our favorite hand washing nigunim!
How can we interact with water as divine source?
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Elu v’elu - אלו ואלו - these and these (Aramaic)
Beit Din - בית דין - Jewish court of law. Learn more here
Mikvah - מקווה - Jewish ritual bath. Learn more here
Amen - אמן - Learn more here
Shabbat - שבת - learn more here
Lighting candles - הדלקת נרות - learn more here
Shalom Aleichem - שלום עליכם - a poem sung to welcome Shabbat. Learn more here
Kiddush - קידוש - the blessing over wine to sanctify Shabbat and Holidays. Learn more here
Family blessings - learn more here
Jewish ritual of Hand Washing - נטילת ידיים - learn more here
USY - United Synagogue Youth
Hamotzi - המוציא - the blessing over bread. Learn more here
Destruction of the temple - learn more here
Challot - חלות - learn more about challah here
Find Rabbi Aderet Drucker’s Sefaria source sheet on hand washing here
Kohanim - כהנים - Jewish biblical priests. Learn more here
Terumah - תרומה - a biblical offering, and the name of a weekly Torah portion found here
“Fence around a fence” - עשו סייג לתורה - a metaphor for creating boundaries to focus on mitzvot
Midrash - מדרש - interpretation. Learn more here
Bracha - ברכה - blessing
Hand washing blessing: Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech HaOlam Asher Kiddishanu B'mitzvotav VeTzivanu Al Netilat Yadaim
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל נְטִילַת יָדַיִם
Praised are you Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, instilling in us the holiness of mitzvot by commanding us to rinse our hands (from Siddur Sim Shalom)
Podcast episode that talks about the blessing formula (Asher Kidishanu B 'Mitzvotav V'tzivanu as an invitation into a ritual moment) here
Mitzvot - מצות - commandments/good deeds. Learn more here
Yad Vashem - יד ושם - Israel’s Holocaust Museum here
The Prophets - הנביאים - learn more here
Parshat Behar - פרשת בהר - learn more here
Shmita - שמיטה - Biblical sabbatical year. Learn more here
Torah - תורה - learn more here
Eretz Israel - ארץ ישראל - the land of Israel
Jewish ritual hand washing cup here
Halachic - according to Jewish law. Learn more here
Marc-Alain Oukanin, philosopher - pitcher teaches us “to receive with appreciation and to give with grace”
Leviim - לווים - Levites here
“That you pour yourself” Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim 159:7
Koach gavra - כח גברא - the power of the pourer
“The Gift” by Lewis Hyde here
B’gadol - בגדול - in large
Chesed shel emet - חסד של אמת - truth based on loving kindness
“A Guide to Jewish Religious Practice” by Isaac Klein here
“Prior to reciting the blessing for bread, we perform the ritual of washing hands, known as N'tilat Yadayim. Rings are removed so that the water comes in contact with all parts of the hand. Then a vessel is filled with water. The water is poured over the right hand and then over the left hand at least twice, although some follow the custom of pouring water three times over each hand.” ~ “The Observant Life” by Martin Cohen here
Minhag - מנהג - custom. Learn more here
Nigun - ניגון - wordless melody. Learn more here
Mi chamocha - מי כמוכה - Who is like You? Here
Amidah - אמידה - The Standing Prayer - here
Kavanah - קבנה - intention - here
“God is Here: Reimagining the Divine” by Rabbi Toba Spitzer here
Rabbi Toba Spitzer light lab podcast episode here
Biblical water-related names for G?d:
Maayan Hayeshua - מעייני הישועה - the Well of Liberation
Peleg Elohim - פלג אלקים - the River of G?d
M’kor Mayim Chaim - מקור מים חיים - the Fount of Living Waters
Mayim Ne 'emanu - מים נאנו - Faithful Waters
Nachad Aranecha - נכד ארקנה - Torrent of Delight
Tehom - תהום - the deep
“Al Netilat Yadayim” by Eliana Light here - From the album Eliana Sings (About Jewish Things)
“When the Saints Go Marching In” here
Camp Hess Kramer kavanah: Blessed is the one that created sustenance to everybody in goodness and in blessing. And all of us, with an amen, will give gratitude to the Holy One. Blessed be their name.
Blessing on Shemini Atzeret: Livrecha ve 'lo li 'kla 'la. לברכה ולא לקללה - May the rain be for a blessing and not for a curse. Learn more about the holiday here