Writings by Barri Cae MallinHodu L'Adonai Kee TovSunday 23 November 2003 - 14:42:21When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you. Deut. 8:10 In the mid 60's, I took my first train trip to Peoria, Illinois, to attend a weekend conference of the Synagogue Youth Organization. This was a predominantly Orthodox Jewish youth gathering, my first ever. Our family switched from a (liberal) Reform temple to an orthodox synagogue, and my eyes were forever opened to new traditions, rituals and customs. Most customs I did not feel comfortable practicing, let alone even spectating. I remember very little of this trip. However, I do remember the raucous Bible songs that we sung during that long train ride. I remember the modest home in which I stayed. But one memory warms my heart every time I think about it. We had all our meals in the dining area of the meeting facility. It was normal to recite the blessing over the bread to begin each meal (Ha Motzee). But what was really special was the recitation of the Birkhat HaMazon, the Grace after Meals. This practice is called bentching, and three men must be present. Where the HaMotzee is 10 Hebrew words, the Birkhat HaMazon takes about 15-20 minutes to recite. As I had never recited this before, all of it was strange to me, but by the end of the week, I loved some of the melodies. The most special part of bentching was looking around the room and seeing the other participants. Most of the children looked like they could care less; they wanted to get on to other 'important' duties. But what captured my heart was the two Rabbis sitting to my left. Somehow, I always got seated by them. When it came to Grace after Meals, us kids could have taken a lesson from this two wizened sages. There they were in their black garb, they looked pretty serious. But the enjoyment and zeal and love for this practice oozed out of them. There were places during the prayer where they would tap their spoons on their water glasses; pound their hands on the table, they made a joyful sound unto the LORD. They were the ones with the biggest smiles on their faces, they were the kids in the room. What a wonderful impression those two Rabbis left on my memory. In Psalm 106:1 (and all through Scripture) we are commanded to give thanks. Hodu L'Adonai kee tov, O give thanks to the LORD for He is good. The tense used in Hebrew for Hodu is the imperative; it is a command. The children who were in that room should have heeded God's command to give thanks. But the Rabbis needed no command; they exuded thanksgiving, they exuded joy. I want to be like those praising Rabbis when I grow up. Hodu L'Adonai Kee tov, Kee La'olam Khas-do O give thanks to the LORD for He is good, His mercy endures forever. I Chr. 16:34; Ps. 106:1; Ps. 107:1; Ps. 118:1, 29; Ps. 136:1 In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Messiah Yeshua, Christ Jesus. I Thess. 5:18 And a voice came from the throne saying, "Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great." Rev. 19:5 |
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Copyright © Barri Cae Mallin. |
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