Introduction to Trauma, Healing & Resilience

Rabbi Jessica Rosenberg

In 2017, the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College received a generous grant from the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation to develop resources for trauma-informed Jewish practice. In recent years, there has been a growing public awareness of the impact of trauma on individuals and communities. This reality is especially true at this moment of national anguish and moral outrage.

Under the leadership of Rabbi Jessica Rosenberg, a 2018 graduate of RRC, we conducted trainings and workshops and developed resources for rabbis, rabbinical students and other Jewish professionals serving individuals and communities impacted by trauma.

Ricardo Levins Morales

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טָרַף בְּקַלְפִּי, וְהֶעֱלָה שְׁנֵי גוֹרָלוֹת, אֶחָד כָּתוּב עָלָיו ״לַשֵּׁם״, וְאֶחָד כָּתוּב עָלָיו ״לַעֲזָאזֵל״.

MISHNA: The High Priest would mix the lots in the lottery receptacle used to hold them and draw the two lots from it, one in each hand. Upon one was written: For God. And upon the other one was written: For Azazel.

וּמֵאֵ֗ת עֲדַת֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל יִקַּ֛ח שְׁנֵֽי־שְׂעִירֵ֥י עִזִּ֖ים לְחַטָּ֑את וְאַ֥יִל אֶחָ֖ד לְעֹלָֽה׃ וְהִקְרִ֧יב אַהֲרֹ֛ן אֶת־פַּ֥ר הַחַטָּ֖את אֲשֶׁר־ל֑וֹ וְכִפֶּ֥ר בַּעֲד֖וֹ וּבְעַ֥ד בֵּיתֽוֹ׃ וְלָקַ֖ח אֶת־שְׁנֵ֣י הַשְּׂעִירִ֑ם וְהֶעֱמִ֤יד אֹתָם֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃ וְנָתַ֧ן אַהֲרֹ֛ן עַל־שְׁנֵ֥י הַשְּׂעִירִ֖ם גֹּרָל֑וֹת גּוֹרָ֤ל אֶחָד֙ לַיהֹוָ֔ה וְגוֹרָ֥ל אֶחָ֖ד לַעֲזָאזֵֽל׃ וְהִקְרִ֤יב אַהֲרֹן֙ אֶת־הַשָּׂעִ֔יר אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָלָ֥ה עָלָ֛יו הַגּוֹרָ֖ל לַיהֹוָ֑ה וְעָשָׂ֖הוּ חַטָּֽאת׃ וְהַשָּׂעִ֗יר אֲשֶׁר֩ עָלָ֨ה עָלָ֤יו הַגּוֹרָל֙ לַעֲזָאזֵ֔ל יׇֽעֳמַד־חַ֛י לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה לְכַפֵּ֣ר עָלָ֑יו לְשַׁלַּ֥ח אֹת֛וֹ לַעֲזָאזֵ֖ל הַמִּדְבָּֽרָה׃

And from the Israelite community he shall take two he-goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. Aaron is to offer his own bull of sin offering, to make expiation for himself and for his household. Aaron shall take the two he-goats and let them stand before the LORD at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting; and he shall place lots upon the two goats, one marked for the LORD and the other marked for Azazel. Aaron shall bring forward the goat designated by lot for the LORD, which he is to offer as a sin offering; while the goat designated by lot for Azazel shall be left standing alive before the LORD, to make expiation with it and to send it off to the wilderness for Azazel.
וְסָמַ֨ךְ אַהֲרֹ֜ן אֶת־שְׁתֵּ֣י יָדָ֗ו עַ֣ל רֹ֣אשׁ הַשָּׂעִיר֮ הַחַי֒ וְהִתְוַדָּ֣ה עָלָ֗יו אֶת־כׇּל־עֲוֺנֹת֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאֶת־כׇּל־פִּשְׁעֵיהֶ֖ם לְכׇל־חַטֹּאתָ֑ם וְנָתַ֤ן אֹתָם֙ עַל־רֹ֣אשׁ הַשָּׂעִ֔יר וְשִׁלַּ֛ח בְּיַד־אִ֥ישׁ עִתִּ֖י הַמִּדְבָּֽרָה׃ וְנָשָׂ֨א הַשָּׂעִ֥יר עָלָ֛יו אֶת־כׇּל־עֲוֺנֹתָ֖ם אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ גְּזֵרָ֑ה וְשִׁלַּ֥ח אֶת־הַשָּׂעִ֖יר בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃
Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat and confess over it all the iniquities and transgressions of the Israelites, whatever their sins, putting them on the head of the goat; and it shall be sent off to the wilderness through a designated man. Thus the goat shall carry on it all their iniquities to an inaccessible region; and the goat shall be set free in the wilderness.

Fumbling Towards Repair: A Workbook for Community Accountability Facilitators

Mariame Kaba & Shira Hassan

Fumbling Toward Repair is a workbook by Mariame Kaba and Shira Hassan that includes reflection questions, skill assessments, facilitation tips, helpful definitions, activities, and hard-learned lessons intended to support people who have taken on the coordination and facilitation of formal community accountability processes to address interpersonal harm & violence.

(ב) וְשַׁבְתָּ֞ עַד־יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ וְשָׁמַעְתָּ֣ בְקֹל֔וֹ כְּכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־אָנֹכִ֥י מְצַוְּךָ֖ הַיּ֑וֹם אַתָּ֣ה וּבָנֶ֔יךָ בְּכׇל־לְבָבְךָ֖ וּבְכׇל־נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃
(2) and you return to the LORD your God, and you and your children heed His command with all your heart and soul, just as I enjoin upon you this day,
(יז) לֹֽא־תִשְׂנָ֥א אֶת־אָחִ֖יךָ בִּלְבָבֶ֑ךָ הוֹכֵ֤חַ תּוֹכִ֙יחַ֙ אֶת־עֲמִיתֶ֔ךָ וְלֹא־תִשָּׂ֥א עָלָ֖יו חֵֽטְא׃
(17) You shall not hate your kinsfolk in your heart. Reprove your kinsman but incur no guilt because of him.

הַסְּגָן בִּימִינוֹ, וְרֹאשׁ בֵּית אָב מִשְּׂמֹאלוֹ. אִם שֶׁל שֵׁם עָלָה בִּימִינוֹ — הַסְּגָן אוֹמֵר לוֹ: אִישִׁי כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל, הַגְבַּהּ יְמִינְךָ. וְאִם שֶׁל שֵׁם עָלָה בִּשְׂמֹאלוֹ — רֹאשׁ בֵּית אָב אוֹמֵר לוֹ: אִישִׁי כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל, הַגְבַּהּ שְׂמֹאלְךָ.

The deputy High Priest would stand to the High Priest’s right, and the head of the patrilineal family would stand to his left. If the lot for the name of God came up in his right hand, the Deputy would say to him: My master, High Priest, raise your right hand so that all can see with which hand the lot for God was selected. And if the lot for the name of God came up in his left hand, the head of the patrilineal family would say to him: My master, High Priest, raise your left hand.

Analysis, Framework and Strategy
Just Transition Framework Design: Wisdom of Frontline communities and leaders with the support of Movement Generation

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Click here to learn more about the LANDBACK movement

Chaplaincy For Justice Source Guide

Rabbi Jessica Rosenberg & Rabbi Ariana Katz

What are the tools that spiritual leaders need to give care to activists and organizers? This guide lists books, zines, podcasts, organizations, and other resources.

וּמַה הִיא הַתְּשׁוּבָה. הוּא שֶׁיַּעֲזֹב הַחוֹטֵא חֶטְאוֹ וִיסִירוֹ מִמַּחֲשַׁבְתּוֹ וְיִגְמֹר בְּלִבּוֹ שֶׁלֹּא יַעֲשֵׂהוּ עוֹד שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה נה ז) "יַעֲזֹב רָשָׁע דַּרְכּוֹ" וְגוֹ'. וְכֵן יִתְנַחֵם עַל שֶׁעָבַר שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ירמיה לא יט) "כִּי אַחֲרֵי שׁוּבִי נִחַמְתִּי". וְיָעִיד עָלָיו יוֹדֵעַ תַּעֲלוּמוֹת שֶׁלֹּא יָשׁוּב לְזֶה הַחֵטְא לְעוֹלָם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (הושע יד ד) "וְלֹא נֹאמַר עוֹד אֱלֹהֵינוּ לְמַעֲשֵׂה יָדֵינוּ" וְגוֹ'. וְצָרִיךְ לְהִתְוַדּוֹת בִּשְׂפָתָיו וְלוֹמַר עִנְיָנוֹת אֵלּוּ שֶׁגָּמַר בְּלִבּוֹ:
What is repentance? The sinner shall cease sinning, and remove sin from his thoughts, and wholeheartedly conclude not to revert back to it, even as it is said: "Let the wicked forsake his way" (Is. 55.7); so, too, shall he be remorseful on what was past, even as it is said: "Surely after that I was turned, I repented" (Jer. 31. 19). In addition thereto he should take to witness Him Who knoweth all secrets that forever he will not turn to repeat that sin again, according to what it is said: "Say unto Him.… neither will we call any more the work of our hands our gods" (Hos. 14.3–4). It is, moreover, essential that his confession shall be by spoken words of his lips, and all that which he concluded in his heart shall be formed in speech.
אָמַר רַבָּה בַּר (בַּר) שֵׁילָא, מַאי קְרָא: ״אֱלֹהַי פַּלְּטֵנִי מִיַּד רָשָׁע מִכַּף מְעַוֵּל וְחוֹמֵץ״. רָבָא אָמַר, מֵהָכָא: ״לִמְדוּ הֵיטֵב דִּרְשׁוּ מִשְׁפָּט אַשְּׁרוּ חָמוֹץ״. אׇשְׁרוֹ חָמוֹץ — וְאַל תַּאַשְׁרוּ חוֹמֵץ.
Rabba bar bar Sheila said: What is the verse that indicates that a ḥamtzan is a robber? The verse states: “O, my God, rescue me out of the hand of wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and robbing man [ḥometz]” (Psalms 71:4). Rava said: From here: “Learn to do well, seek justice, strengthen the robbed [ḥamotz]” (Isaiah 1:17), which teaches that one should strengthen the robbed, but not strengthen the robber.

9 Solidarity Commitments to/with Incarcerated People for 2021

Mariame Kaba

Are you looking for ways to support and work in solidarity with incarcerated people this year? Here's a simple list of solidarity commitments created by Project NIA director, Mariame Kaba, to offer some concrete ideas and steps.

״וְכִפֶּר בַּעֲדוֹ וּבְעַד בֵּיתוֹ וּבְעַד כׇּל קְהַל יִשְׂרָאֵל״, כַּפָּרָתוֹ קוֹדֶמֶת לְכַפָּרַת בֵּיתוֹ, כַּפָּרַת בֵּיתוֹ קוֹדֶמֶת לְכַפָּרַת אֶחָיו הַכֹּהֲנִים, וְכַפָּרַת אֶחָיו הַכֹּהֲנִים קוֹדֶמֶת לְכַפָּרַת כׇּל קְהַל יִשְׂרָאֵל.
The baraita concludes by expounding the final part of the verse: “And have made atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the assembly of Israel” (Leviticus 16:17). This teaches that his atonement precedes the atonement of his household; the atonement of his household precedes that atonement of his brethren, the priests; the atonement of his brethren, the priests, precedes the atonement of the entire community of Israel.
מַתְנִי׳ שְׁחָטוֹ וְקִבֵּל בְּמִזְרָק אֶת דָּמוֹ, וְנוֹתְנוֹ לְמִי שֶׁהוּא מְמָרֵס בּוֹ עַל הָרוֹבֶד הָרְבִיעִי שֶׁבַּהֵיכָל, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִקְרוֹשׁ. נָטַל מַחְתָּה וְעָלָה לְרֹאשׁ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, וּפִנָּה גֶּחָלִים אֵילָךְ וְאֵילָךְ, וְחוֹתֶה מִן הַמְעוּכָּלוֹת הַפְּנִימִיּוֹת, וְיָרַד וְהִנִּיחָהּ עַל הָרוֹבֶד הָרְבִיעִי שֶׁבָּעֲזָרָה. בְּכׇל יוֹם הָיָה חוֹתֶה בְּשֶׁל כֶּסֶף וּמְעָרֶה בְּתוֹךְ שֶׁל זָהָב, וְהַיּוֹם חוֹתֶה בְּשֶׁל זָהָב וּבָהּ הָיָה מַכְנִיס. בְּכׇל יוֹם חוֹתֶה בְּשֶׁל אַרְבַּעַת קַבִּין וּמְעָרֶה לְתוֹךְ שְׁלֹשֶׁת קַבִּין, וְהַיּוֹם חוֹתֶה בִּשְׁלֹשֶׁת קַבִּין וּבָהּ הָיָה מַכְנִיס. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: בְּכׇל יוֹם חוֹתֶה בְּשֶׁל סְאָה וּמְעָרֶה בְּתוֹךְ שְׁלֹשֶׁת קַבִּין, וְהַיּוֹם חוֹתֶה בִּשְׁלֹשֶׁת קַבִּין וּבָהּ הָיָה מַכְנִיס. בְּכׇל יוֹם הָיְתָה כְּבֵדָה, וְהַיּוֹם קַלָּה. בְּכׇל יוֹם הָיְתָה יָדָהּ קְצָרָה, וְהַיּוֹם אֲרוּכָּה. בְּכׇל יוֹם הָיְתָה זֶהָבָה יָרוֹק, וְהַיּוֹם אָדוֹם. דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מְנַחֵם. בְּכׇל יוֹם מַקְרִיב פְּרָס בְּשַׁחֲרִית וּפְרָס בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם, וְהַיּוֹם מוֹסִיף מְלֹא חׇפְנָיו. בְּכׇל יוֹם הָיְתָה דַּקָּה, וְהַיּוֹם דַּקָּה מִן הַדַּקָּה. בְּכׇל יוֹם כֹּהֲנִים עוֹלִין בְּמִזְרָחוֹ שֶׁל כֶּבֶשׁ וְיוֹרְדִין בְּמַעֲרָבוֹ, וְהַיּוֹם כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל עוֹלֶה בָּאֶמְצַע וְיוֹרֵד בָּאֶמְצַע. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: לְעוֹלָם כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל עוֹלֶה בָּאֶמְצַע וְיוֹרֵד בָּאֶמְצַע. בְּכׇל יוֹם כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל מְקַדֵּשׁ יָדָיו וְרַגְלָיו מִן הַכִּיּוֹר, וְהַיּוֹם מִן הַקִּיתוֹן שֶׁל זָהָב. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: לְעוֹלָם כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל מְקַדֵּשׁ יָדָיו וְרַגְלָיו מִן הַקִּיתוֹן שֶׁל זָהָב. בְּכׇל יוֹם הָיוּ שָׁם אַרְבַּע מַעֲרָכוֹת, וְהַיּוֹם חָמֵשׁ, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: בְּכׇל יוֹם שָׁלֹשׁ, וְהַיּוֹם אַרְבַּע. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: בְּכׇל יוֹם שְׁתַּיִם, וְהַיּוֹם שָׁלֹשׁ.
MISHNA: The High Priest would slaughter the bull and receive its blood in a bowl, and give it to the one who stirs it. The stirrer would stand on the fourth row of tiles in the Sanctuary and stir the blood lest it coagulate while the High Priest sacrificed the incense. He would take a coal pan and ascend to the top of the altar and clear the upper layer of coals to this side and to that side and with the coal pan scoop up coals from among the inner, consumed coals. And he would then descend and place the coal pan with the coals on the fourth row of tiles in the Temple courtyard. The mishna comments on some of the contrasts between the service and protocols followed on Yom Kippur and those followed throughout the rest of the year: On every other day, a priest would scoop up the coals with a coal pan made of silver and pour the coals from there into a coal pan of gold. But on this day, on Yom Kippur, the High Priest scoops up with a coal pan of gold, and with that coal pan he would bring the coals into the Holy of Holies. On every other day, a priest scoops up the coals with a coal pan of four kav and pours the coals into a coal pan of three kav. But on this day, the High Priest scoops with one of three kav, and with it he would bring the coals into the Holy of Holies. Rabbi Yosei says a variation of this distinction: On every other day, a priest scoops up the coals with a coal pan of a se’a, which is six kav and then pours the coals into a coal pan of three kav. But on this day, the High Priest scoops with a coal pan of three kav, and with it he would bring the coals into the Holy of Holies. On every other day, the coal pan was heavy. But on this day it was light, so as not to tire the High Priest. On every other day, its handle was short, but on this day it was long so that he could also use his arm to support its weight. On every other day, it was of greenish gold, but on this day it was of a red gold. These are the statements of Rabbi Menaḥem. On every other day, a priest sacrificed a peras, half a maneh, of incense in the morning, and a peras in the afternoon, but on this day the High Priest adds an additional handful of incense and burns it in the Holy of Holies. On every other day, the incense was ground fine as prescribed by the Torah, but on this day it was superfine. On every other day, priests ascend on the eastern side of the ramp and descend on its western side, but on this day the High Priest ascends in the middle of the ramp and descends in the middle. Rabbi Yehuda says: There was no difference in this regard. Even during the rest of the year, the High Priest always ascends in the middle of the ramp and descends in the middle, due to his eminence. On every other day, the High Priest sanctifies his hands and his feet from the laver like the other priests, and on this day he sanctifies them from the golden flask, due to the eminence of the High Priest. Rabbi Yehuda says there was no difference in this regard. Even during the rest of the year, the High Priest always sanctifies his hands and his feet from the golden flask. On every other day there were four arrangements of wood there, upon the altar, but on this day there were five; this is the statement of Rabbi Meir. Rabbi Yosei says: On every other day there were three, but on this day there were four. Rabbi Yehuda says: On every other day there were two, but on this day there were three.

(יב) דָּבָר אַחֵר, כַּה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ, זֶה שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב (תהלים סט, יד): וַאֲנִי תְפִלָּתִי לְךָ ה' עֵת רָצוֹן, רַבִּי חֲנִינָא בַּר פָּפָּא שָׁאַל לְרַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן מַהוּ דִּכְתִיב וַאֲנִי תְפִלָּתִי לְךָ ה' עֵת רָצוֹן, אָמַר לוֹ שַׁעֲרֵי תְּפִלָּה פְּעָמִים פְּתוּחִים פְּעָמִים נְעוּלִים, אֲבָל שַׁעֲרֵי תְּשׁוּבָה לְעוֹלָם פְּתוּחִים, אָמַר לוֹ מִנַּיִן, דִּכְתִיב (תהלים סה, ו): נוֹרָאוֹת בְּצֶדֶק תַּעֲנֵנוּ אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׁעֵנוּ מִבְטָח כָּל קַצְוֵי אֶרֶץ וְיָם רְחוֹקִים, מַה הַמִּקְוֶה הַזֶּה פְּעָמִים פָּתוּחַ פְּעָמִים נָעוּל, אַף שַׁעֲרֵי תְּפִלָּה פְּעָמִים פְּתוּחִים פְּעָמִים נְעוּלִים, אֲבָל הַיָּם הַזֶּה לְעוֹלָם פָּתוּחַ, כָּךְ יָדוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְעוֹלָם פְּתוּחָה לְקַבֵּל שָׁבִים.

Another interpretation: “For what great nation is there that has a God so close at hand as YHVH our God whenever we call? (Deut. 4:7): Rabbi Hanina bar Papa asked Rav Shmuel bar Nahman: What is the meaning of the verse, But as for me, let my prayers be unto You in an acceptable time (Psalms 69:14)? He replied: The gates of prayer are sometimes open and sometimes closed, but the gates of teshuvah always remain open. He then asked him: Whence [do you know this]? [Rav Shmuel replied:] Because it is written, You answered us in righteousness with wondrous works, O God of our salvation; You [who are] the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of the far distant seas (Psalms 65: 6). Just as the mikvah is sometimes open and sometimes closed, so too are the gates of prayer sometimes open and sometimes closed; but as the sea ever remains open, so is the hand of God ever open to receive the one who does teshuvah.

(א) הֲשִׁיבֵֽנוּ אָבִֽינוּ לְתוֹרָתֶֽךָ וְקָרְ֒בֵֽנוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ לַעֲבוֹדָתֶֽךָ וְהַחֲזִירֵֽנוּ בִּתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה לְפָנֶֽיךָ: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה הָרוֹצֶה בִּתְשׁוּבָה:

(1) Cause us to return, our Father, to Your Torah and bring us near, our King, to Your service; and bring us back in whole-hearted repentance before You Blessed are You, Adonoy, Who desires penitence.

(א) רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם הֲרֵינִי מוֹחֵל לְכָל־מִי שֶׁהִכְעִיס וְהִקְנִיט אוֹתִי אוֹ שֶׁחָטָא כְנֶגְדִּי בֵּין בְּגוּפִי בֵּין בְּמָמוֹנִי בֵּין בִּכְבוֹדִי בֵּין בְּכָל־אֲשֶׁר לִי בֵּין בְּאֽוֹנֶס בֵּין בְּרָצוֹן בֵּין בְּשׁוֹגֵג בֵּין בְּמֵזִיד בֵּין בְּדִבּוּר בֵּין בְּמַעֲשֶׂה בֵּין בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה בֵּין בְּהַרְהוֹר בֵּין בְּגִלְגּוּל זֶה בֵּין בְּגִלְגּוּל אַחֵר לְכָל־בַּר יִשְׂרָאֵל וְלֹא יֵעָנֵשׁ שׁוּם אָדָם בְּסִבָּתִי: יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶֽיךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהַי וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתַי שֶׁלֹא אֶחֱטָא עוֹד וּמַה־שֶּׁחָטָֽאתִי לְפָנֶֽיךָ מְחוֹק בְּרַחֲמֶֽיךָ הָרַבִּים אֲבָל לֹא עַל־יְדֵי יִסּוֹרִים וָחֳלָיִים רָעִים: יִהְיוּ לְרָצוֹן אִמְרֵי־פִי וְהֶגְיוֹן לִבִּי לְפָנֶֽיךָ יְהֹוָה צוּרִי וְגֹֽאֲלִֽי:

(1) I hereby forgive anyone who has angered me, or sinned against me, either physically or financially, against my honor or anything that is mine, whether accidentally or intentionally, inadvertently or deliberately, by speech or by deed, by thought or by speculation, in this incarnation or in any other: any Israelite [is forgiven], may no man be punished on my account. May it be Your will, Adonoy, my God and God of my fathers, that I shall sin no more nor repeat my sins, neither shall I again anger You nor do what is wrong in Your eyes. The sins I have committed, erase in your abounding mercies, but not through suffering or severe illnesses. May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be acceptable before You Adonoy, my Rock and my Redeemer.