Bayit: Building Jewish

After the Amidah: Acceptable to You - Bayit: Building Jewish We began this journey with “Adonai S’fatai,” asking God to open our lips – a prayer before the formal prayer. We close with “Yihiyu L’Ratzon” and “Elohai N’tzor” – prayers […]

(4/4) Includes work by Trisha Arlin, @velveteenrabbi.bsky.social , Mike Cockrill Sherrill Kratenstein Cropper, R. Hannah Dresner, R. Sonja Keren Pilz, and R. David Zaslow. Find it here: yourbayit.org/acceptable/

(3/) This offering is like the three steps back we take upon concluding our prayer. As we back away from that period of holy encounter, how might we find ourselves changed?

(2/) These closing blessings aren’t technically part of the Amidah, but they are part of our experience of praying the Amidah. Many people begin the recitation of the Amidah by taking three steps forward to enter the prayer and enter the divine Presence.

New from our Liturgical Arts Working Group, the final offering in our #Amidah series. We began this journey with “Adonai S’fatai,” asking God to open our lips – a prayer before the formal prayer. We close with “Yihiyu L’Ratzon” and “Elohai N’tzor” – prayers after the formal prayer. (1/)

The first page of a Jonah script called My Children, featuring the narrator / God, Jonah, and Yūnus. Find the whole script at the link above.

A woodcut of a whale in the sea. Text: "My Children / Jonah 5786 / 2025," and the Bayit logo

New for this #YomKippur: a retelling of the #Jonah story created for this year. yourbayit.org/jonah2025/

New Haftarah for Mideast Peace - Bayit: Building Jewish With the approaching new year’s sweetness, we taste the bitterness of suffering across the Mideast. What does this poignant Season of Meaning ask of us, and can we breathe new […]

New at Builders Blog from R. David Markus and @velveteenrabbi: yourbayit.org/hannah2025/

Available here as a recording, a PDF, and google slides. Wit thanks to @opensiddur.bsky.social for sharing the prayer of mothers in the first place, and for the font that allows typing trope!

A liturgical setting that links the story of Hannah from 1 Samuel (often chanted on the first day of Rosh Hashanah) with the “Prayer of Mothers for Life and Peace” by Rabbi Tamar Elad-Appelbaum and Sheikha Ibtisam Maḥameed, set in the Haftarah trope of prophesy.

New Haftarah for Mideast Peace - Bayit: Building Jewish With the approaching new year’s sweetness, we taste the bitterness of suffering across the Mideast. What does this poignant Season of Meaning ask of us, and can we breathe new […]

New at Builders Blog from R. David Markus and @velveteenrabbi: yourbayit.org/hannah2025/

Book launch from Bayit Publishing. Recover by Adam Green, forthcoming in 5786. Read about the book here: https://yourbayit.org/recover/

Announcing the next book due from Bayit in 5786: Recover by Adam Green, chronicling the journey through atypical anorexia, structured around key moments in the Jewish year. yourbayit.org/recover/

Grant Peace - Amidah Blessing 7 - Bayit: Building Jewish The closing blessing of the Amidah asks for shalom: peace, wholeness, completion. What does this prayer mean to us today? What does it ask of God – and of us? […]

Includes work by @trishaarlin3000.bsky.social, @velveteenrabbi.bsky.social , Mike Cockrill, R. Sonja Keren Pilz PhD, Steve Silbert, and R. David Zaslow.
Find it here: yourbayit.org/peace/

How can we ask for something we may not even wholly understand? This offering arises out of those questions and more. We hope it speaks to you, and we hope it helps you to pray some of what’s on your heart.

The closing blessing of the Amidah asks for shalom: peace, wholeness, completion. What does this prayer mean to us today? What does it ask of God – and of us? What does it mean to ask for peace in a time of tumult and injustice?

Grant Peace - Amidah Blessing 7 - Bayit: Building Jewish The closing blessing of the Amidah asks for shalom: peace, wholeness, completion. What does this prayer mean to us today? What does it ask of God – and of us? […]

New from our Liturgical Arts Working Group: the latest in our series of offerings arising out of the Shabbat Amidah, on the theme of peace / shalom.

yourbayit.org/peace/

In the Light of Peace: poems and meditations of a creative spiritual community. Edited by Leiah Bowden with Abby Bogomolny, Sally Churgel, and Rita Rappoport Rowan. Cover features a painting of a winged angel in many colors.

Published four years ago today!

yourbayit.org/lightofpeace2/

Hurry up, we start counting the Omer on April 13 in the evening. Still time to order this and treat yourself to a new box of markers or colored pencils or pastels or paint or inks or crayons!

From the Depths: Pesach 5785 / 2025 - Bayit: Building Jewish Once again, Passover approaches amidst some anxiety and uncertainty. Many of us are living in Mitzrayim / meitzarim / constriction. And once again, Pesach comes to remind us that our […]

In case you're still looking for new poetry, prayer, and art for #Pesach this year, our offering includes work by @trishaarlin3000.bsky.social , @velveteenrabbi.bsky.social, R. Sonja Keren Pilz, Flash Rosenberg, R. David Zaslow and we hope it will speak to you.

yourbayit.org/depths/

Image: dawn over the desert. "A Psalm 118 for Now." "From the depths I call to You--" From the tight straits, from the Narrow Place from the weary grind of the terrible news... But that's not the end of the psalm. The heart's cry is just the beginning. Darkness comes before the dawn. "You answer me with Your expansiveness!" When we cry out, You lift us up like mourners rising from life's ashes. That we're still here is a miracle. Gladden our hearts. Make us bloom like meadows of wildflowers in the spring. R. Rachel Barenblat

Another one of my contributions to From the Depths, this year's offering of new collaboratively-created liturgy for #Pesach. Find the whole collection (as slides and as a PDF) at yourbayit.org/depths/

From the Depths: Pesach 5785 / 2025 - Bayit: Building Jewish Once again, Passover approaches amidst some anxiety and uncertainty. Many of us are living in Mitzrayim / meitzarim / constriction. And once again, Pesach comes to remind us that our […]

New from Bayit comes this collection of poetry, prayer, and art expressing some of what’s on our hearts as we prepare for #Pesach this year.

Includes work by @trishaarlin3000.bsky.social , @velveteenrabbi.bsky.social, R. Sonja Keren Pilz, Flash Rosenberg, R. David Zaslow.

yourbayit.org/depths/

Five colorful crayons and the cover of "Color the Omer: 49 Days of Beauty and Reflection" by Steve Silbert and Shari Berkowitz. A yellow cloud says, "Get your copy now for a mere $13!" and contains a short URL

Grab a copy of #ColorTheOmer / 49 days of beauty and reflection - a contemplative coloring book for the #Omer journey by @drshariellen.bsky.social and Steve Silbert. Only $13! shorturl.at/EsW91 or learn more at yourbayit.org/bayit-publis...

Pesach - Bayit: Building Jewish

It's almost Nissan! Don't miss these #Passover resources -- hex cards and card games for your seder table from Steve Silbert and Mary Lynn Walter, and a contemplative coloring book for the Omer journey from Steve and @drshariellen.bsky.social!
yourbayit.org/pesach/

Pesach - Bayit: Building Jewish

It's almost Nissan! Don't miss these #Passover resources -- hex cards and card games for your seder table from Steve Silbert and Mary Lynn Walter, and a contemplative coloring book for the Omer journey from Steve and @drshariellen.bsky.social!
yourbayit.org/pesach/

Answering Wickedness With Wisdom - Bayit: Building Jewish The words in Hebrew for “chametz” and “matzah” are similar. They both have a “מ – mem” and a “צ – tzadi,” and the third letters are nearly identical in […]

"...Wisdom, which is housed in humility, perpetually motivates us to continue advancing the cause of goodness as we remind the wise child 'אֵין מַפְטִירִין אַחַר הַפֶּסַח – don’t stop [fighting for the liberation of all people] after Passover is over.'..."

Read the whole thing here: yourbayit.org/wisdom/

Answering Wickedness With Wisdom - Bayit: Building Jewish The words in Hebrew for “chametz” and “matzah” are similar. They both have a “מ – mem” and a “צ – tzadi,” and the third letters are nearly identical in […]

New on Builders Blog from R. Mike Moskowitz, another gorgeous post unpacking deep wisdom in the #Passover #haggadah. yourbayit.org/wisdom/

Bricks Without Straw This year Pharaoh has declared That we must make our bricks Without straw! That we must be happy Without truth That we must be poor Without healthcare That we must be gendered Without a say That we must be Black Without equity That we must be women Without choices That we must be old Without help That we must live Without housing That we must be prepared Without science That we must make war Without conscience That we must breathe Without air That we must be refugees Without asylum That we must be content Without democracy That we must obey Without question. Moses said to Pharaoh, Let my people go. And this year, what do you say? Say it now! Trisha Arlin (seen atop a blue and yellow Ukrainian flag, with a Bayit logo.) From a collection available here: https://yourbayit.org/depths/

Here's one of @trishaarlin3000.bsky.social 's gorgeous contributions to From The Depths, our new #Peach offering. Find the whole thing here: yourbayit.org/depths/

Multitude We are a mixed multitude: some frozen in trauma, some burning with grief. Each of us carries at least one image of a child's unjust death seared into our hearts. How do we walk free? Tell me the story again of how God said, "My children are drowning and you sing praises?!" Every human being is a child of God, even the ones on the other side. This year nobody's cup of joy is full. Our souls feel as fragile as matzah. Even if we and our children and our children's children aren't certain what freedom would feel like, maybe we can agree that this state of brokenness isn't it. I want to believe we can get there from here. Maybe the only way is as a mixed multitude holding hope for each other until we can feel it again. R. Rachel Barenblat From a collaboration available here: https://yourbayit.org/depths/

Here's one of my contributions to From the Depths, this year's new #Pesach offering from @bayit.bsky.social. There's some truly gorgeous work here and I'm humbled as always to be included. Find the whole thing here: yourbayit.org/depths/

If it's Purim, you better: 1. start eating up the chametz and 2. Get yourself a fresh copy of Color the Omer #ColorTheOmer and some fresh markers. Makes a great host gift if you are invited to a seder.

From the Depths: Pesach 5785 / 2025 - Bayit: Building Jewish Once again, Passover approaches amidst some anxiety and uncertainty. Many of us are living in Mitzrayim / meitzarim / constriction. And once again, Pesach comes to remind us that our […]

New from Bayit comes this collection of poetry, prayer, and art expressing some of what’s on our hearts as we prepare for #Pesach this year.

Includes work by @trishaarlin3000.bsky.social , @velveteenrabbi.bsky.social, R. Sonja Keren Pilz, Flash Rosenberg, R. David Zaslow.

yourbayit.org/depths/

Big fan of this coloring book!! I might need to order a fresh copy for this year ☺️😍

When we eat maror and matzah together, each doesn't lose "their individual focuses of redemption and exile" -- and, eating them together "helps us better identify them both, below the surface, wherever we might find ourselves along that journey..."