The Week Ebbs Away

Shabbos is coming. A new month is coming. The Shabbos blessing for the new month is coming. I read that such a prayer for the new month is unique to Judaism. I don't know other cultures and religions well enough to say if anyone has such a ceremony. I can say that ours is a beautiful prayer. We look for every month to be one of renewal. We pray that like the moon that almost disappears and is then reborn that we should be blessed with revitalization this month.

May we be blessed this month, and also this Shabbos, not to mention every day (oops).

I'd like to come out of this Shabbos more focused and energized. Please G-d, as we read in the Torah about the first Shabbos ever - let it be special for us. Some say on the seventh day nothing was created. Another way to view it is that the greatest creation was saved for the seventh day - Shabbos.

I sway as she approaches,

as darkness encroaches,

lightened by her light

I forfeit the fight

I hurry slowly

toward being more free.

take in the strong day

let the week end her stay.

G-d help me

to make one of many

and this day to sanctify,

despite my poverty inside.