The central Jewish prayer, the Amidah, can be framed as a series of “Wow – Please – Thanks.” The Amidah starts off with statements of “Wow” (or Shevach, praise) – we express wonder and awe; we connect with a feeling of something bigger than ourselves. Then we move to “Please” (or Bakasha, request) – we ask God or a higher power for things like health, peace, and wisdom. Finally, we close with “Thanks” (or Hodayah, gratitude.) We recall all the things we already have to feel grateful for.
We invite you to take a moment with your teen to write your own prayer using this format. Again, if the God language is not something that feels meaningful for you, you can think of this as a form of writing to express your ideas and feelings and to be in communication with something bigger than yourself. If the language of God is meaningful for you, of course you are welcome to use it.
Use the structure that you have on the handout to help organize your ideas. You are welcome to draw from the traditional prayers! Recycle and quote any words that resonated with you. You can also write something completely new.
ACTIVITY
Print a copy of the handout for each person who is participating in the activity.
Set a timer for about 15 minutes, play some music, and write your own prayers. We invite you to slow down, reflect, and take time to express your thoughts.
When you and your teen(s) have finished writing your prayers, read your prayers aloud to each other. At the end of each prayer, we invite you to say “Amen.”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What was it like to write your own prayer?
- What was it like to reflect on the state of America at this moment in history?
- What was it like to hear another person’s prayers? Are there any prayers in particular that resonated with you?