Tree of Life Prayer

Saturday morning I learned about the shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh right before I got up on the bimah to lead services. I held those killed, their families, and everyone present in my prayers throughout the morning. And on my walk home, a new tune came to me for Psalm 130, which we recite when we are so distraught and desperate that all we can do in the moment is call out for help. The words are:

מִמַּעֲמַקִּ֖ים קְרָאתִ֣יךָ יְהוָֽה
אֲדֹנָי֮ שִׁמְעָ֪ה בְק֫וֹלִ֥י תִּהְיֶ֣ינָה אָ֭זְנֶיךָ קַשֻּׁב֑וֹת לְ֝ק֗וֹל תַּחֲנוּנָֽי

Out of the depths I call You, Havaya.
Adonai, hear my voice,
Let Your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.

Channeling our suffering into song and prayer is the beginning of the road to healing and change. I hope this tune offers you some comfort and can give you strength to keep moving forward, keep working against hatred and bigotry, keep transforming our world into a place of peace and love for one another and the generations to come.

It’s a long road, but we are walking it together.