She’hecheiyanu – Artwork by Baruch Nachshon
Our goal should be to live life in radical amazement…. get up in the morning and look at the world in a way that takes nothing for granted.
~ Abraham Heschel, God in Search of Man
The above words from Abraham Heschel encapsulate the heart of She’hecheyanu, a blessing of praise. It is recited as the first blessing on the occasion of each of the Festivals, marks new beginnings, and sets apart special occasions. It is the one prayer that has so caught my (Cindy’s) heart – that I rarely move through a day without a reason to lift these words up to our Abba. Be it the first sighting of an irridescent hummingbird hovering over one of our blossoms or the sprouting of a newly planted seed… She’hecheyanu. It comes to my heart when I get news that my daughter is coming home or a sunset that takes my breath away. It sprang from my heart the other day when a delivery of new plants arrived at my door, bursting with new life, and later as the first green anole lizard of this season stopped to join me in my spring planting.
She’hecheiyanu is a prayer that reminds us that G-d is intimately and personally concerned with each of our lives. That G-d is, as Abraham Heschel says,” immediately… and personally concerned.”
You can download the words to She’hecheiyanu here.
2 Responses
Thank you, Cindy, for reminding us of the prayer but aalso, especially for that wonderful picture that you have put to accompany it!
Jean you are very welcome!