Like its predecessor, This Grateful Heart, this volume of creative liturgy opens a door into the transformative power of prayer. Structured to reflect the morning service found within Mishkan T'filah, this collection invites a deeply personal prayer experience that will strengthen our connection to Judaism and to the Reform siddur.
Foreword Introduction Acknowledgments Birchot HaShachar / Morning Blessings Preparations for Prayer Modeh/Modah Ani First Bird Wrap and Bind Your Dwelling Place Preliminary Prayers Entrances and Exits Let God Being Present Receiving Blessings Prayer for You, Prayer for Me Sacred Silly Each Day Daily Miracles and Torah Study Morning Blessings God’s Morning Before Studying Torah Meditation on Mitzvot P’sukei D’zimrah / Morning Psalms Baruch She-Amar Blessed Name Light of God The Gifts of Our Lives Ashrei / Daily Hallel Hiding My Face In Gratitude for Your Gifts Sing Out Sing Praises Place Your Name upon Us In Praise Sing Hallelujah Dance Hallelujah The Details of Beauty Yishtabach The Rhythm of Wonder Sacred Cargo Sh’ma and Related Blessings Bar’chu This Moment Finding God Yotzeir This Is the Place About Miracles For Creation Ahavah Rabbah This Joyous Soul Gravity and Light For Prayer Sh’ma Gathering: A Dream of Reunion Affirmation of Faith Mi Chamochah Who Is Like You Miriam’s Word Offerings Umbrella of Blessings Amidah / Standing Prayers Opening Prayers / Avot v’Imahot For Devotion Amidah Avot v’Imahot To Do Your Will Messengers K’dushah Holy Without a Sound8 Supplications Let Us Meet9 The Dark Corners For Healing Release Me Redeeming My Life Let Me Quiet On Making a Mistake Sin Offering For Jewish Unity Against Hatred To Hear Your Voice To Seek Your Glory To Know Your Word To Seek Your Love For Grace For Wonder and Awe T’filat Halev Prayer with Wings Prayer of Gratitude We Are Music Marvelous Gifts Peace Will Come Seder K’riat HaTorah / Torah Service Removing the Torah from the Ark God’s Voice Let Torah Ki MiTzion Prayers for Healing Bring Healing Power Living Waters R’fuat HaNefesh Tears Being a Blessing Prayers for the Community For Our Congregation For Congregational Wisdom during Conflict For Government For Wisdom during Democratic Elections For Peace in the Middle East For Travel Returning the Torah to the Ark To Ask The Statutes of Heaven Tree of Life Concluding Prayers Aleinu Every Heart The Open Space One Gift Kaddish For the Bereaved Every Beginning The Last Moment Closing Meditations Soul Shine Whispered Prayer Let Tranquility Reign Biographies Permissions
Alden Solovy can make just a single word or phrase of the classic siddur take on new meaning and enable us to hear it as we never have before. He is a 21st-century paytan, weaving together gratitude and praise with contemporary yearnings for transcendence and connection. His prayers give living expression co the Mishnah's injunction to refrain from making our prayers rote. - Rabbi Leon A. Morris, President, Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, Jerusalem
With This Joyous Soul, Solovy cracks open the heart to reclaim morning prayer. This is a revolutionary companion to the siddur that deepens the connection to God and helps point us toward the holy. - Rabbi Denise L. Eger, DD, Congregation Kol Ami, West Hollywood, CA
Alden Solovy's newest collection of prayers, poems, and meditations are a much-needed resource for rabbis, cantors, and clergy of all faiths. But they shouldn't be reserved for clergy alone: all who are seeking a deeper relationship to our faith, liturgy, and tradition can use these readings to find greater meaning and connection with the world around us and the Almighty. - Cantor Evan Kent, DMA, Cantor Emeritus, Temple Isaiah, Los Angeles
Solovy knows that expressing gratitude contributes to the happiness of your life. You are united with your grateful and joyous heart in reading both these collections of prayers. And if praying sustains you, if your heart's desire is to become that "prayer with wings gliding on the currents of your faith," then Solovy's This Joyous Soul and This Grateful Heart will be your inspirational companions. - The Jewish Post & Opinion
Watch HUC-JIR students recite “Being a Blessing,” from This Joyous Soul below: