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Section 6 of “Shekhinah: The Presence” by Joseph Zitt
This is an unedited scan of the text, courtesy of Josh Ronsen
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Silence
no
words spoken
here
we
now
stand
tightly joined
together
alone
three steps back
three steps forward
as we approach the ghost of a throne
feet held closely together
"Oh Lord, open our lips..."
For each blessing
meticulously written
we bend our knees and bow
then stand erect again
and turn and sway
and as we speak our prayers
in silence
we listen also
to the whisperings of our hearts
Listen: you may hear
the turning of pages
the hum of lights
the rush of traffic passing outside
the rustle of moving lips
as we mouth and savor
the ancient texts
the shuffle of feet.
Listen: if you hear these,
listen more closely.
(The Presence comes near,
tentatively,
as if afraid that her light
will distract us from
our focus.
She moves among us
silent
unseen
Then, with further joy,
exchanging power with us
as the beams of our prayers merge and
point east
point upward
point outward
She runs in paths of symbols of infinity
bowing and swirling among us
her energies reflecting,
refracting our movements
our bows and turns
tilting, spinning her outward
until
as each of us completes the prayer
(three steps forward
three steps back)
she slows
then once again rejoins the silence
standing,
waiting to the east)
We finish
and our leader turns,
then turns back,
reprising
saying the prayers again, aloud,
for those of us who may not have prayed
for those of us who may not have understood
for those of us who may not have listened
to their inner selves
to their voices of meditation.
We stand
and,
more relaxed,
more aligned with the surrounding atmosphere
let our minds drift
to the leaders melodies
as we
and the shielding hall of prayer
become one.
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