Partners In Prayer - Siddur

Hallel Rosh Chodesh Av Paragraph Six: By: Machberes Avodas Hashem The Story of the Jewish People   Ours, is a story that already resonates throughout the world. Less than three years after the Holocaust, we were a nation reborn, fighting for our survival, winning, and building a dynamic country against all odds. We sing this paragraph of the Rosh Chodesh Av Hallel as a song of our story, to give us strength from our past to look forward to an ever greater future: "Give thanks to God Who is good, for His kindness is forever! Let Israel declare that His Kindness is forever! Let the House of Aaron declare that His kindness is forever! Let those who are in awe of God declare that His kindness if forever!" "I called to the Creator of Heaven and Earth from a tight spot, and He answered me broadly. God is with me, I have no fear; what can people do to me? God is with me to help me, so I can confront my enemies. It is better to depend in God than to trust people. It is better to...

Hallel Rosh Chodesh Av Paragraph Five:  By Machberes Avodas Hashem Collecting Sparks   Rabbi Yosef of Couey reminds us that we were sent into exile for two purposes: 1) To plant seeds of God's Light everywhere in the world, to become, "A light unto the nations." 2) To collect the lost souls of those who have Divine sparks deep inside of them, and bring them back to their source. This paragraph of the Rosh Chodesh Av Hallel is a reminder of our positive mission in exile: "All you nations; Praise God! Sing compliments, all you peoples! For His kindness overpowers us, and God's Truth is forever. Hallelukah!"  

Hallel Rosh Chodesh Av Paragraph Three: By: Machberes Avodas Hashem Showered With Blessings   Why do we sing that we are about to begin a new stage in our existence? Why do we declare our commitment to always sing as the Servants of God? Why do we sing of our eternal hope that we will leave this exile just as we left Egypt? We sing this Hallel on Rosh Chodesh Av because we are confident that just as God blessed Adam with the ability to master the world, God will bless us as we enter His creation ready to master the world, for that is our intention in exile. Just as He blessed Noah after the destruction of the Flood, God will bless us as we step out into a post destruction world. Just as He blessed Abraham who began his relationship with God as an exile, "Go for yourself from your land, from your birthplace, and from your  father’s  house, and I will bless you," so too, God will bless us as we begin our exile: "God remembered us and will bless- Bless the House of Israel -...

Hallel Rosh Chodesh Av Paragraph Two:  By:   Machberes Avodas Hashem   Life as a Rowboat   "It's why we're all so fascinated with history. We're in a rowboat. We-move forward, but  we're  always looking back (Louise Penny; "Bury Your Dead"). The Jews sang Hallel on Rosh Chodesh Av even as the Babylonians, and five hundred years later, the Romans, were pillaging the city, fully aware that  they  were on their way into exile. They were determined to move forward, but continued to look back to draw strength and guidance for the future. They sang with the sense that just as they were redeemed from Egypt and experienced great miracles, so too,  they  would eventually leave this exile, and experience even greater miracles: The verse says, "As for us, our  eyes yet  fail watching for our vain help, in our hoping and watching for a nation that would not save us (Lamentations 4:17)." In spite of the destruction, and in spite of our...

HALLEL FOR ROSH CHODESH AV   Hallel: Rosh Chodesh Av Paragraph One:  By: Machberes Avodas Hashem   Stepping Into the Future   "And who recited this Hallel? The prophets among them ordained that Israel should recite it at every important epoch and at every misfortune – may it not come upon them! and when they are redeemed they recite [in gratitude] for their redemption (Pesachim !17a)." How did the Jews sing Hallel on Rosh Chodesh Av, when the Babylonians were already in the city, and they knew that they were defeated? Did they sing it so that the misfortune would not come upon them; a desperate plea for a miracle? I suggest that they sang this Hallel according to the first instruction: "The prophets among them ordained that Israel should recite it at every important epoch," this was a Hallel for the future. They sang Hallel with the clear understanding that Israel was poised to begin another important stage; surviving in exile. They sang this Hal...