This High Holiday season has great meaning to me, and, perhaps, more than any other. This Rosh HaShanah, in particular, represents...

This High Holiday season has great meaning to me, and, perhaps, more than any other. This Rosh HaShanah, in particular, represents happiness, gratitude, and comfort to me. And it always will. Because my West Point son survived a fifteen month deployment in Iraq during a tumultuous period there and during which he was part of the surge in American troops sent to control the violence and bring calm. Truly and most sincerely, I am grateful to God for bringing my Andy home unscathed because he survived more IED episodes than he would ever admit to.I am full of joy that he is finally home and safe on American soil following his five years of service to our country as an Army officer, and is now continuing his studies in graduate school. I wish him success, but, more so, this Rosh HaShanah, I wish our country peace.

One of my favorite prayers is the Asher Yatzar, taught to me by one of my favorite teachers, Rabbi Camras:"Praised are You, Lord our...

One of my favorite prayers is the Asher Yatzar, taught to me by one of my favorite teachers, Rabbi Camras:"Praised are You, Lord our God, King of the universe who with wisdom fashioned the human body, creating openings, arteries, glands, and organs, marvelous in structure, intricate in design.  Should but one of them, by being blocked or opened, fail to function, it would be impossible to exist.  Praised are you, Lord, healer of all flesh who sustains our bodies in wondrous ways."

How do we dedicate our new website? We can’t hang a mezuzah on the home page! We probably shouldn’t say a brakha like “Mekadesh...

How do we dedicate our new website? We can’t hang a mezuzah on the home page! We probably shouldn’t say a brakha like “Mekadesh ha-Website” blessed is God who makes this website sacred. We dedicate this website by using it. Perhaps posting a prayer on the prayer wall is the best option. In dedication of this website, we celebrate the talent and vision that created the site, the resources that make it possible, and the community it engages. May every visit to this website strengthen our connection to our synagogue community. May our posted prayers, comments, and pictures help us to participate more fully in our congregation. May we meet and welcome new and familiar Chizuk Amuno friends through this modern tool. And may the calendar or other information we seek be accurate when we check it!

As I prepare for the New Year, I think of Hineni, the prayer of the Hazan. I also wish that my talents will be of service to my community...

As I prepare for the New Year, I think of Hineni, the prayer of the Hazan. I also wish that my talents will be of service to my community. God, give me the insight to properly understand my place in relationship to you. To not shy away from my own gifts, but to not suffer the sin of arrogance. To understand that I depend on others but I must lead in ways I have been prepared for. To understand that the human creation is glorious and it is my responsibility to reflect that glory. To give me the confidence to stand strong and the awareness to realize I am a small part of a large plan. I count on you for guidance and insight yet I know I am responsible for my own acts. You are blessed.

Thank you God for the wonder of our lives and the world we live in.  Thank You for the ability to appreciate it. May we find ways to...

Thank you God for the wonder of our lives and the world we live in.  Thank You for the ability to appreciate it. May we find ways to enjoy life to its fullest and be infused with gratitude.

Thank you for the gift of my loving husband and children. The strength and joy they bring me each every day is truly humbling. 

Thank you for the gift of my loving husband and children. The strength and joy they bring me each every day is truly humbling. 

Thank you for the beautiful blessings in my life. Thank you for my family, my friends, my home, my job, my health, and the gift...

Thank you for the beautiful blessings in my life. Thank you for my family, my friends, my home, my job, my health, and the gift of life. My heart is full of thanksgiving. Thank you for the children of this congregation and the teachers who guide them. May your peace and love be with them everyday so that their lives may be full of blessings. Thank you for this community of faith, where I can come to know more about you.

Dear God... Please be with the leaders of our city. Bring peace to this place, education to our children, and an end to violence and...

Dear God... Please be with the leaders of our city. Bring peace to this place, education to our children, and an end to violence and drugs. Please be with our world leaders. May they find wisdom and understanding for the good of the whole world. Please guide our troops in Iraq in Afghanistan. Bring them home to their families and friends safely. Please be with my parents as they prepare for retirement. Guide them into this new stage of their life with love and joy.

Thank God every day for whatever I have.

Thank God every day for whatever I have.

Dear God: I pray today for the future of the Jewish people. I pray for faith that the divisions between Jews will not diminish us...

Dear God: I pray today for the future of the Jewish people. I pray for faith that the divisions between Jews will not diminish us. I pray that the ties that bind us as Jews will outweigh the labels of Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist, Orthodox. I pray for tolerance and acceptance - so that I may understand and respect others' perspectives and the circumstances that inform people's thinking. I wish this for myself and for others, in the hope that we realize as a community that our devotion to God is more meaningful than any of the details about which we differ. Amen.

On the occasion of David's Bar Mitzvah ... On this special day, we thank God for your character, spirit, and the joy you bring your...

On the occasion of David's Bar Mitzvah ... On this special day, we thank God for your character, spirit, and the joy you bring your family and all who know you. Our prayer on this day of accomplishment for you is that you will draw valuable life-long lessons from today's event. One day, when you have truly grown to adulthood and you are faced with the challenges, both large and small, that we all face in the course of our lives, we pray that you will find in your Jewish community, in the example set by your teachers, and in the moral teachings of the Torah, valuable guides as you strive to pursue a meaningful and upright life. We give thanks to our friends and family, your teachers at the Krieger Schechter Day School, the Chizuk Amuno Congregation, and all who have nurtured your Jewish education and who have instilled in you such a firm foundation for the future. We are proud of you and we love you.

My prayers go out to the Jews around the world – in France, Sweden, Germany, the Middle East. Everywhere. May God watch over them...

My prayers go out to the Jews around the world – in France, Sweden, Germany, the Middle East. Everywhere. May God watch over them, protect them, and give them strength.

Lord, you remain unchanged as I change. Help me through all the vicissitudes of life to keep my bearings. Help me to be strong when...

Lord, you remain unchanged as I change. Help me through all the vicissitudes of life to keep my bearings. Help me to be strong when I need to be strong. Help me to make valuable contributions to my family and community. Help me to realize my own talents and use them in the best way possible. And when I face the inevitable moments or sorrow and loss, help me to shoulder through. Help me to understand the eternal scheme behind everyday appearances and to keep my own life in perspective. You are blessed. 

Please guide us in our marriage, that we will continue to grow every day in friendship and love.

Please guide us in our marriage, that we will continue to grow every day in friendship and love.