Dear Friend,

I imagine you join me in feeling quite heavy about the world these days. There was already plenty of war in the world, but this war between Israel and Gaza feels like something we’ve all been praying would never come and yet, here it is. The news and images each day are overwhelming and the number of children estimated to have been killed is … well there aren’t words.

The words are hard to form and the situation so complicated, so layered, that I often find myself with just the word “peace” repeated again and again. So, today I have offerings in this Midweek Musings about peace. I hope these links will bring you peace and as we pray for peace together may our prayers become more than words and peace find its way into our world in new and powerful ways.

Blessings,
Pastor Jenny

A Rabbi’s Letter to A Local Muslim Community

When it feels like we will never find a way to get along, it is good to remember that there are so many places where people from different backgrounds, cultures and faiths not only get along, but find ways to love each other and live together. This letter from a Rabbi in Virginia to a Imam is an example of hope for what is possible.

Read the full article here.

Dona Nobis Pacem

sung by Six de Choeur

I’ve sung this song since I was young with choirs and at dinner tables. This is a lovely rendition.

Dona Nobis Pacem – Grant Us Peace.

Word Study: Shalom: Peace

Bible Project

This video by the Bible Project is a great short exploration of the word peace in the Bible where it means much more than just the absence of war or conflict.

“Prayer of the Mothers”

By Rabbi Tamar Elad Appelbaum and Sheikha Ibtisam Mahamid, Translated by Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie

God of Life

Who heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds

May it be your will to hear the prayer of mothers.

For you did not create us to kill each other

Nor to live in fear, anger or hatred in your world

But rather you have created us so we can grant permission to one another

to sanctify Your name of Life, your name of Peace in this world.

For these things I weep, my eye, my eye runs down with water

For our children crying at nights,

For parents holding their children with despair and darkness in their hearts

For a gate that is closing and who will open it while day has not yet dawned.

And with my tears and prayers which I pray

And with the tears of all women who deeply feel the pain of these difficult days I raise my hands to you

please God have mercy on us

Hear our voice that we shall not despair

That we shall see life in each other,

That we shall have mercy for each other,

That we shall have pity on each other,

That we shall hope for each other

And we shall write our lives in the book of Life

For your sake God of Life

Let us choose Life.

For you are Peace, your world is Peace and all that is yours is Peace

And so shall be your will and let us say Amen.