The Ansche Chesed blog is a place where you can find enriching material to read about God, Torah and the Jewish People.
Long ago, in the BC era – Before Covid – I wrote “Tefillah Tuesday” reflections which I hope helped deepen people’s experience of davvening our shared prayer book. But then some other stuff happened, so in March I stopped writing these weekly short essays. I’d like to resume now, in the same spirit which has… Read more »
Dear Friends, Typically at this time of year, we wish each other a חג כשר ושמח, a “sweet and kosher Pesach.” (The snarky and witty among us sometimes wish others a חג כשר או שמח “sweet or kosher Pesach.” But that’s another matter.) This year, keeping the mitzvot of Passover and obtaining enough food will not be… Read more »
הָשִׁיבָה שׁופְטֵינוּ כְּבָרִאשׁונָה וְיועֲצֵינוּ כְּבַתְּחִלָּה. וְהָסֵר מִמֶּנּוּ יָגון וַאֲנָחָה. וּמְלךְ עָלֵינוּ אַתָּה ה’ לְבַדְּךָ בְּחֶסֶד וּבְרַחֲמִים. וְצַדְּקֵנוּ [בצדק ו] בַּמִשְׁפָּט. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה’, מֶלֶךְ אוהֵב צְדָקָה וּמִשְׁפָּט /Hashiva shof’teinu k’varishona, v’yoatzeinu k’va’tehila, ve’haser mimenu yagon v’anaha, um’lokh aleinu ata Adonay l’vad’kha, b’hesed u’v’rahamim, v’tzadkeinu bamishpat [alt: b’tzedek u’b’mishpat]. Barukh Atah Adonay, melekh ohev tzedakah u’mishpat.… Read more »
תְּקַע בְּשׁופָר גָּדול לְחֵרוּתֵנוּ. וְשא נֵס לְקַבֵּץ גָּלֻיּותֵינוּ. וְקַבְּצֵנוּ יַחַד מֵאַרְבַּע כַּנְפות הָאָרֶץ (לְאַרְצֵנוּ) ברוך אתה ה’ מְקַבֵּץ נִדְחֵי עַמּו יִשרָאֵל /T’ka beshofar gadol le’heruteinu, v’sa neis lekabbetz galuyoteinu, v’kabbetzeinu yahad me’arbah canfot ha’aretz (le’artzeinu). Barukh Atah Adonay, mekabbetz nidhei amo Israel. “Blow the great shofar to proclaim our liberation. Raise the flag to gather… Read more »
וְתֵן טַל וּמָטָר לִבְרָכָה (ברכה) עַל פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה וְשבְּעֵנוּ מִטּוּבָהּ/מִטּוּבך… ברוך אתה ה’ מברך השנים/V’ten tal u’matar livrakha al p’nei ha’adam, v’sab’enu mituva (or mituvekha). … Barukh Atah Adonay, mevarekh hashanim. Grant dew and rain as a blessing upon the earth (during winter and spring – or just “grant blessing,” during summer and fall) and… Read more »
