Shabbat Bish'vat

Shabbat Bish’vat
on this Shabbat in the month of Sh’vat
we praise you, 
God of Israel,
for the cycles of our days,
the cycles of our weeks
that bring us always to that fresh and quiet day of rest.

Shabbat Bish’vat
on this Shabbat in the month of Sh’vat
we praise you,
God of Israel,
for the fullness of our week,
for the quiet when we needed quiet, 
for the joy when we needed joy,
and for calm amid the storm,
or the joyful winds when things were a bit too calm.

On this Shabbat in the month of Sh’vat,
we praise you,
we celebrate you,
O God of Israel,
for the cycles of our days,
for the cycles of our weeks,
and the fullness of each.

And we pray,
in this month of Sh’vat,
that that there always be moments of Shabbat...
that we, that Israel, that all the world
might find stillness, wholeness, and peace.

Rosh Chodesh Shevat

Rosh Chodesh Shevat -
on this first day of the month of Shevat,
we praise you,
God of Israel,
for the cycles of the year ,
for the cycles of the moon
that bring us monthly back to a fresh beginning.

Rosh Chodesh Shevat -
on this first day of the month of Shevat,
we praise you,
God of Israel,
for the cycles of our earth,
for the rains when it is time for rain,
for the dew when it is time for dew,
and for the rain and snow especially when it is not time,
but when we need it most.  

Rosh Chodesh Shevat -
on this first day of the month of Shevat,
we praise you
God of Israel,
for the cycles of our vegetation,
for the greens when it is time for green,
for the reds and yellows when it is time for red and yellow,
for the birth and renewal of tiny seedlings into towering trees...

On this first day of the month of Shevat,
we praise you,
we celebrate you,
O God of Israel,
for the cycles of the year and of the moon,
for the cycles of the earth and of vegetation...
And we pray,
in this month of Shevat,
that Shevet Achim Gam Yachad,
we might all sit together peacefully
in the shade of your most grand creations.