some ideas for struggling jews
im compiling a list of some basic brachas that i say every day. i don’t have much of a jewish community so i really try to elevate my spirituality through some daily rituals. i def dont claim to be any kind of expert on anything jewish but anyway <3 hope this helps any fellow struggling jew in galut…
1) set your morning alarm to say “modeh ani” as a reminder to say modeh ani, you could even set your alarm song to the actual modeh ani so it’s the first thing you hear in the morning! there are some really pretty melodies on youtube
Modeh anee lefanecha melech chai vekayam, she-he-chezarta bee nishmatee b’chemla, raba emunatecha.
I offer thanks to You, living and eternal King, for You have mercifully restored my soul within me; Your faithfulness is great.
*********if you would rather say your own version of modeh ani, then do so!!! just thank hashem every morning that you have the opportunity to wake up!!! I say my modeh ani with an added: “thank you for allowing me to wake up another day. I’m promise to do my best with it” or something along those lines
2) at night, when you go to set your alarm for the morning, SAY YOUR SHEMA- doesn’t have to be the full bedtime shema! this is the most essential declaration of faith
Sh'ma Yis'ra'eil Adonai Eloheinu Adonai echad.
Hear, Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.
3) I always say the bracha after going to the bathroom. it might sound silly, but i love it lol
************if you don’t like the hebrew or the english, i always say “thank you for allowing my body to work properly” (cause you never know how thankful you are to poop than when you suddenly can’t poop…)
****there is an iPhone app for this called “asher yatzar”
baruch atah adonai elokeinu melech ha’olam asher yatzar et ha’adam b’chochma uvara bo nekavim nekavim chalulim chalulim galu’i ve’yadua lifnei kisei kevodecha sh’im yipate’ach echad m’hem oh im yisatem echad m’hem ee efshar le’hitkayem ve’la’a’mod l’fanecha afilu sha’ah echat. baruch ata adonai rofeh kol basar u’maflee la’asot
“Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who formed man with wisdom and created within him many openings and many hollows (cavities). It is obvious and known before Your Throne of Glory that if but one of them were to be ruptured or if one of them were to be blocked it would be impossible to survive and to stand before You (even for a short period of time). Blessed are You, Hashem, Who heals all flesh and acts wonderously.”
4) FOOD!!!!!!- there is an iPhone app called “ibracha” with a list of a million foods and their corresponding brachot (if you’re stuck with obscure shit like yogurt and you dont know what to do!)
the basic ones i say are:
Baruch atah A-donay, Elo-heinu Melech Ha’Olam Hamotzi lechem min haaretz.
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, Who brings forth bread from the earth.
b) cookies/pastries/crackers/cereals/grains etc.
Baruch atah A-donay, Elo-heinu Melech Ha’Olam borei minei mezonot.
Blessed are you L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, Who creates various kinds of sustenance.
c) fruits! (that grow on trees)
Baruch atah A-donay, Elo-heinu Melech Ha’Olam borei pri ha-aitz.
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the tree.
d) vegetables + peanuts? + fruits that grow in the ground (ex: pineapple)
Baruch atah A-donay, Elo-heinu Melech Ha’Olam borei pri ha-adamah.
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe who creates the fruit of the earth.
e) animal products + miscellaneous (drinks/candy/soups/whatever the fuck) + **********when you dont know what the fuck to do!
Baruch atah A-donay, Elo-heinu Melech Ha’Olam shehakol nihiyah bed'varo.
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, by Whose word all things came to be.
5) If you’ve eaten bread and you want to say the birkat ha’mazon there is an iPhone app called “iBirkat” with the hebrew, english, and transliteration!!!
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other spectacular iPhone apps (i don’t know about android but I’m sure there are equivalents! someone add on with them if so)
-pirkei avot (ethics of the fathers)
-tehillim (psalms) try reading one a day!!!
-parsha to go- weekly parsha with all kinds of rad commentary (i set an alarm every friday to remind me to read this!)
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I really hope this helps….if not, MAKE UP YOUR OWN PRAYERS! IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE CONNECT WITH JUDAISM DAILY. IF FOR NO OTHER REASON CONSIDER IT AN ACT OF RESISTANCE. THEY CANT TAKE AWAY OUR DAVENING. NO PRAYER INSIGNIFICANT. NO PRAYER UNHEARD.
(if you need any further inspiration, my inbox is ALWAYS OPEN! we have to bring each other home!)
