The past year makes way for new.
Look back at our roads less traveled.
Lean forward into what’s yet to be
And dedicate yourself to building.

Look back at our roads less traveled:
Friday nights in mystical white…
Dedicate yourself to building
The vibrant future you dream for.

Friday nights in mystical white
Enliven the soul, bring hope to the heart.
The vibrant future you dream for:
The renewal of tomorrow is in your hands.

Enliven the soul, bring hope to the heart.
What do you yearn for?
The Renewal of tomorrow is in your hands.
Dare to dream what the future needs.

What do you yearn for?
Lean forward into what’s yet to be.
Dare to dream what the future needs
As the past year makes way for new.

 

We wish you every joy in 5777!

 

 

Rabbi Rachel Barenblat and Rabbi David Evan Markus
on behalf of ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal

 

Notes:

Our roads less traveled. See Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken. Sometimes life takes us on roads that are difficult to travel, and meaningful in proportion to their difficulty.

Friday nights in mystical white. Many Jewish Renewal communities maintain the kabbalistic practice of wearing white on Friday night to welcome the Shabbat Queen into our midst.

[D]edicate yourself to building. See the Babylonian Talmud, Brakhot 64a:  “Students of the wise increase peace in the world, as it is said (Isaiah 54:13), ‘And all your children will be taught of God.’ Read not as ‘your children’ but as ‘your builders.'”

What the future needs. This evokes the prayer Elohai Neshama / אלהי נשמה, which speaks of the renewal of our souls in a future time.