This week’s Daily Kavanot will be written by two members of our musical team: Cantorial Intern Andrew Paskil and Educational and Cantorial Intern Lauren Roth, who each contributed to the beautiful sound of our High Holy Day services. Andrew was named our Cantorial Intern in July and has been part of our musical team for over a year. Lauren is finishing her master’s in Jewish Education and Leadership this spring, and will then return to New York to complete her cantorial studies.
Fall Back, Spring Forward
This morning I was woken up by the sun creeping through the window. Fearful that I had overslept, I had forgotten that daylight savings ended the night before. I have gotten so used to waking before the sun that, for a moment, I thought that I was late to start my day. Fall back, spring forward I have to remind myself, now knowing that I have gained an hour of sleep. But with that hour and morning sunshine come shorter days. My car rides home will no longer be accompanied by the setting sun, but rather darkness all around me.
Even so, I find comfort in our daily liturgy. In the mornings, we recite the Yotzer Or, praising God for creating light: “Praised are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, Creator of light and darkness …You illumine the world and those who live upon it … Praised are You, Adonai, Creator of all heavenly lights” (Mishkan T’filah). In the evenings we recite Maariv Aravim, praising God for giving us darkness:
“Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who speaks the evening into being, skillfully opens the gates, thoughtfully alters the time and changes the seasons, and arranges the stars in their heavenly courses according to plan. You are Creator of day and night, rolling light away from darkness and darkness from light, transforming day into night and distinguishing one from the other. Adonai Tz’vaot is Your name. Ever-living God, may You reign continually over us into eternity. Blessed are You, Adonai, who brings on evening.”
—Mishkan T’filah
As I pray the words of Yotzer Or in the mornings, I know that darkness will soon follow, and as I pray the words of Maariv Aravim in the evenings, I know that light is not far behind. So while the darkness may seem scary for a time, I am reminded that as darkness comes, it won’t last forever.
—Lauren Roth