As we transition from Building Block 1 (Avodah/service)….to Building Block 2 (Klal Yisroel), this article that just came out on the “Uvah Letzion” prayer is particularly timely…expressing the theme of the unstoppable, unbreakable, and inextricable connection that G-d maintains with the Jewish people forever.

Can you imagine a young man and women deeply in love and committed to one another for life that are forced to be apart for awhile due to unforeseen circumstances? The impending separation is so devastating not only because they will be apart, but because the amount of time they will be apart is uncertain. Can you imagine the declarations of love, fidelity and commitment pledged to one another before they separate?

After the separation, can you imagine the potency of the letters sent one to another with emotion and great anticipation of the time when they will be together again? The longing for reconnection is palpable. These are the images that come to mind when I read and chant the next nine verses of Uvah Letzion. Yet the couple is not a young man and woman; it is rather Hashem and His beloved children, Israel.

The section after the Kedushah Desidrah of Uvah Letzion quotes nine verses from all of Tanach-The Bible, Prophets and Writings. There is a verse from Divrei Hayamim Chronicles when King David delivers a farewell address to the Jewish people as well as several verses from all over Tehillim – Psalms. Although the verses are quoted from different books and chapters, there is one theme that exists throughout all of them-namely: The unstoppable, unbreakable, andinextricable connection that G-d maintains withthe Jewish people forever.

The verses refer to G-d’s infinite patience and compassion; and that He is forgiving of iniquity and does not destroy. We invoke His promises of truth and goodness that were sworn unto Avraham and Yaakov; as well as that G-d is our salvation and will answer us on the day we call upon Him.

In Uvah Letzion I, we stated that one of the reasons offered as to why we say Uvah Letzion is that - There was a time in history when the authorities of the land banned the recitation of Kedushah. In response our sages instituted that we wait until after the Amidah and recite Kedushah twice in a subsequent prayer after the officials would have left the scene. Therefore Kedushah was added to the end of prayers together with an Aramaic translation and to Shabbat afternoon services.

It therefore fits beautifully that after we declare the Kedushah Desidrah in Hebrew as well as Aramaic, we chant these nine verses depicting our eternal bond with our Creator.

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Take Home Tip: It is our task, challenge and privilege to recognize and develop a relationship with our Father in heaven, G-d. One of the ways we build a relationship is through communication. One of the ways we communicate with G-d is through prayer. Like all other relationships our relationship with G-d requires effort, attention and skill. 

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Prepared by Rabbi Ephraim Epstein—Congregation Sons of Israel, Cherry Hill, NJ Rabbiepstein@sonsisrael.org   Archived Tefillah Tips and videos may be found at: www.oucommunity.org under The Tefillah Initiative banner.


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