Diana's Essay, "Surely the Soul Sings Always," featured in New Book, Choosing Judaism: 36 Stories

by Diana Phillips

An excerpt from “Surely the Soul Sings Always,” featured in the essay collection: Choosing Judaism: 36 Stories.

I attended my first Shabbat service in July 2012, preceded by a picnic in the park. I remember taking it all in—families seated cross-legged on blankets quilting the grass, sharing spreads of hummus and pita, olives, Israeli salad, and braided challah. A smiling man greeted me as I entered the prayer space, “Shabbat shalom,” he said, handing me a folded prayer sheet with a quote by Rav Kook:

“As long as a person is constrained to wait for a time when the creative spirit will inspire her…this is an indication that her soul has not yet been illuminated…”

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