Blessing for Adar (1, 2, and if necessary, 3) — by Kohenet Ilana Joy Streit • the Open Siddur Project

Tags: 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., English vernacular prayer, Prayers as poems, תחינות teḥinot

Excerpt: A prayer-poem for summoning the necessary courage, patience, and clarity for collective liberation as mapped onto the extra month of Adar in a leap year. . . .

Content:

Blessing for Adar (1, 2, and if necessary, 3)

(for a leap year or as needed)

and you might feel powerless
even if you are the queen

and you might not know what to do
where to turn

but maybe
maybe with Vashti’s blessing in your pocket
you can step a way forward

when in doubt
throw a banquet
even a small one

when in doubt
boo at someone hateful

when in doubt
bake cookies in funny shapes
and give them away

fast or slow or
    just keep going
  or stop
or
  hang out at the gates of the palace
    in case you are needed (for moral support)

when in danger
in a fictional place
with no name of God in sight

put Esther’s blessing
in your pocket

maybe the story
    somehow
is already written
      and
    maybe
it is not a tragedy

perhaps you and God together
will unmask yourselves

This prayer was created by Kohenet Ilana Joy Streit for the month of Adar 2022 / 5782.