From the Cantor - November 2004

"So Moses cried out to Adonai, saying -
O, God, pray heal her"

(Bemidbar/Numbers 12:13)

As I was driving back to the synagogue from a visit at the hospital the other day, I was drawn to the ominous look of nature around me. The clouds were hanging over the mountains and there was lightning and thunder. I couldn't help but think about our ancestors wandering in the desert and yet being at the foot of "the mountain." There must have been many times that they were moved to prayer from the sights they saw. I certainly would be, for the Torah tells us God was in that cloud. Perhaps we feel more frequently moved to prayer when experiencing a crisis or visiting those who are ill. Perhaps the visit itself is our "prayer." It may be fitting that the quote above is the only outright prayer in Torah, a prayer for the healing of Miriam, Moses' sister. Moses was able to compose a direct prayer on the spot because he had many prayer experiences prior to that time. We may be moved to prayer at a time of crisis or when witnessing the beauty of nature. Without the practice of prayer we find ourselves strained or silent.

There are many opportunities at Congregation Albert to develop our prayer skills. Families pray together at Family Tefillah which takes place at 9:30 a.m. every Religious School Sunday. Through Limmud HaTefillah, our fourth, fifth and sixth grade students and their families can develop their prayer skills on select Shabbat mornings at 9:00 a.m. By attending Shabbat and Festival worship we learn to pray as a congregational community. We also have the opportunity to join in prayer with other faith communities when we participate in the annual Thanksgiving Interfaith Service on November 24 at 7:00 p.m. at First Unitarian Church. I encourage and invite you to find an opportunity to join us in prayer.

May we all be thankful for the many opportunities we have to pray together.

B'shira,
Cantor Barbara R. Finn

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