Blessing for Rosh Ḥodesh Kislev, by Kohenet Ilana Joy Streit

Contributor(s): Kohenet Ilana Joy Streit

Shared on: 19 November 2019 under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) 4.0 International copyleft license

Categories: Rosh Ḥodesh Kislev (כִּסְלֵו)

Tags: 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., English vernacular prayer

Blessing for Rosh Ḥodesh Kislev

May we be nourished by the darkness
and by the light

May we be held in our moments of darkness
and see the ripples of our light

May all of the Shabbat candles from the past year cheer us on
   illuminate our path to rededication
      give us just a bit more energy
         team up with the stars to brighten our faces and hearts

May Hershel stay with us all year
may we dress up as him for Purim and offer hard-boiled eggs to misguided politicians

May we let our dreams be our ḥevrutas

And may we put the Lev back in Kislev

A poem-blessing for the Hebrew month of Kislev, suitable for Birkat HaḤodesh, Rosh Ḥodesh Kislev, and the whole month.

Please note that this was written in the Northern Hemisphere and conveys the experience of Ḥeshvan as a winter month.

The references to Hershel and hard-boiled eggs are from the popular picture book, Hershel and the Ḥanukkah Goblins, by Eric A. Kimmel, which is highly recommended both in general and in further understanding this poem.

If this piece brings you comfort, nourishment or inspiration, please consider making a financial contribution to support this work. You can see and hear more of Ilana’s creative work on her Patreon page. Or to make a one-time contribution, Venmo (@Ilana-Streit).

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“Blessing for Rosh Ḥodesh Kislev, by Kohenet Ilana Joy Streit” is shared through the Open Siddur Project with a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International copyleft license.

Kohenet Ilana Joy Streit

Based in mid-Hudson Valley, New York, Kohenet Ilana Joy Streit is a working artist, peacemaker, and a weaver of blessings (through poem, prayer, and song).

Thank you for honoring and contributing to her work in any or all of the following ways:

Share her work (with attribution of course) to expand its reach
Let Ilana know how you are using or sharing this work
Make a one-time financial contribution or join her community on Patreon.

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ויהי נעם אדני אלהינו עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננה עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננהו "May the pleasantness of אדֹני our elo’ah be upon us; may our handiwork be established for us — our handiwork, may it be established." –Psalms 90:17