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Erin muses on
רפוה שלמה
(renewal, peace) from tonight’s Shabbat services up in town. (It’s the first
time we’ve been to services outside of the High Holy Days in three
years, since our wedding, and the first time we’ve been back to Emanu El since leaving Houston
in 1999.)

The mi shebeirach prayer is one of renewal and strength, traditionally read in honor of
someone who has an aliyah (ascension,
not late
R&B star) to read a portion of Torah – an exacting and
draining effort. Reform congregations like Emanu El’s have begun to use
the Debbie Friedman
interpretation as a prayer for the sick, and also for the weary. Do we
qualify as weary? Drained, exhausted souls? If going to temple is like
refuelling one’s spirit, then I think it’s safe to say that we’ve been
running on fumes for some time now.