Elokai Neshama: Of Souls and Purity and a Young Man Driving in a Car

#vayikra #sefervayikra #leviticus #elokaineshama #breathe #breath #breathe #yehudahbecker #avishai #eloheyneshama #pure #mysoulispure #breath #breathe

Hello Friends,

We are beginning the book of Vayikra, or Leviticus. Vayikra is the third book of the Torah, the middle book set between the first two and final two books. Vayikra stands alone in its subject matter. It is almost (not quite!) devoid of stories and instead focuses on the duties of the priests and the sacrifices that take place in the courtyard of the mishkan, the place that God resides as the Israelites travel.

In Hebrew Schools and Day Schools students begin their study of Torah with the book of Genesis, which is adorned with universal stories and the introduction of primary figures in the Torah narrative. What a colorful way to begin one's study, with the creation stories and Noah's Ark? There is, however, a long tradition of a child's first exposure to Torah beginning with the book of Vayikra. Rabbi Ephraim Mervis, the chief rabbi of Great Britain writes, Says the Yalkut, the sacrifices which form the major part of the content of Vayikra are pure, and children are pure. Therefore, ‘let the pure come and immerse themselves in the pure.’ (Yalkut Shimoni Tzav 479)

The purity of sacrifice, the purity of children, the purity of the soul. Three concepts linked together by one word, purity (Tahor). There is a prayer in the siddur, the Jewish prayerbook; one that is recited in the quiet of the morning, before even rising from one's bed, that speaks about purity and the soul. It is the Elokai Neshama (Elokai is a substitute for God's name when one is not praying). It is difficult to know how to translate the title of the prayer.

My Jewish Learning translates it as "Breathing the Soul Alive." Sefaria translates it as "My God, the soul which You bestowed in me is pure." I will let you decide for yourselves how you might translate the first few words of this prayer.

My God, the soul which you have placed within me is pure. You have created it; You have formed it; You have breathed it into me. You preserve it within me; You will take it from me, and restore it to me in the hereafter. So long as the soul is within me, I offer thanks before You, Lord my God and God of my fathers, Master of all creatures, Lord of all souls. Blessed are You, Lord, who restores souls to the dead. (translation from Sefaria)

אֱלֹהַי נְשָׁמָה שֶׁנָּתַֽתָּ בִּי טְהוֹרָה הִיא

אַתָּה בְרָאתָהּ אַתָּה יְצַרְתָּהּ אַתָּה נְפַחְתָּהּ בִּי

וְאַתָּה מְשַׁמְּרָהּ בְּקִרְבִּי וְאַתָּה עָתִיד לִטְּלָהּ מִמֶּנִּי וּלְהַחֲזִירָהּ בִּי לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא,

כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהַנְּשָׁמָה בְקִרְבִּי מוֹדֶה אֲנִי לְפָנֶיךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהַי וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתַי רִבּוֹן כָּל הַמַּעֲשִׂים אֲדוֹן כָּל הַנְּשָׁמוֹת

: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה הַמַּחֲזִיר נְשָׁמוֹת לִפְגָרִים מֵתִים

I had never given this prayer too much thought until a few months after October 7th, when I came across a Youtube video of young man singing this prayer in a car while traveling down a highway in Israel. His energy, his pure soul and kavanah (intentionality toward prayer) ignited my soul. Since then I have watched and listened to this video many times. Yehudah, may his memory be a blessing, has inspired me to think, no, to feel this beautiful prayer.

We learn that prayer and this amazing document called the siddur, is a substitute for the sacrifices we study in the book of Vayikra, so prayer is our vehicle now to draw closer to God. This short prayer, Elokai Neshama, gives us gratitude for the air we breathe and our lives.

This post is dedicated to the memory of Yehudah Becher, one of the young souls who were wiped out at the Nova Music Festival on October 7th. Yehudah's spirit filled the air with joy.

Yehudah, I did not have the privilege of every meeting you, but your prayer of Elokai Neshama has touched my soul and I will never forget this prayer or ever take it for granted, because of you. May your memory live on.

Shabbat Shalom,

Leann

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Elokai Neshama-

אֱלֹהַי נְשָׁמָה שֶׁנָּתַֽתָּ בִּי טְהוֹרָה הִיא

In the stillness of dawn

waking ears perceive early morning murmurings

the rooster’s aggrandizing caws,

the robin's plaintive request

a passing car's low rumble.

Random thoughts weave between slumber and wakefulness 

behind eyelids harboring eclipses of opaque dreams

Awaken, precious soul, to the first breath of a new day

It is not just another day.

It is a moment of renewed creation

Breathe.

אֱלֹהַי נְשָׁמָה שֶׁנָּתַֽתָּ בִּי טְהוֹרָה הִיא

A heart pulses,

lungs expand and contract as the tide. 

Muscles, sinews ignite

Toes crack, fingers stretch

You are alive!

You.

Are.

Breathe once

deeply

richly.

Welcome the air

as it glides through your lungs,

through tunnels and tubes

and

with a smooth whoosh

it returns to the universe.

Breathe.

Awaken, precious soul to this new day

                  For this new day is not just another day.

                  It is another day.

Another opportunity

gifted with the air you breathe.

Open your eyes.

My soul, I feel you.

You are here.

Breathe.

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