Candle lighting time is 4:46
Aitz Chaim
Aitz Chaim, Etz Chaim, Eits Chaim, transliterate it any way you want, but this is still one of my favorite prayers. It is a short prayer that we recite as we are returning the Torah to the ark, and quite honestly, the English translation and my words just do not do justice to the passion and love of God and Torah that I feel every time I sing this prayer.
There is a majesty to the prayer that moves me deep inside. I see my Rabbi, Rabbi Gross, at Parkway Jewish Center, singing this song, and there was just something about the look on his face as he uttered “Chadeish chadeish yameinu
Chadeish yameinu k’kedem…”
Literally, Aitz Chaim means “tree of life,” and is not the Torah the tree of life that God has given to us? As the prayer says, “It is a tree of life to those who take hold of it, and happy are those who support it.”
We sing Aitz Chaim as a fervent plea to God, “Turn us to thee, O Lord, and let us return, renew our days as of old.”
Yes, return us dear God to you. Let us never forget that you are our creator, that you give us life and all that we need to sustain us. You gave us this Torah to guide us through life, and as we complete the singing of Aitz Chaim we return it physically to its home in the ark, while it remains spiritually in our hearts at all times.
Aitz chaim can be found on page 389 and 390 of our Birnbaum siddurs.
Aitz chaim he lamachazikim ba,
Vesomecheha me-ushar.
Deracheha – d’rechei no-am,
Vechol nesivosecha shalom…
Hashiveinu Adonai eilecha v’nashuva
Chadeish chadeish yameinu
Chadeish yameinu k’kedem…
“It is a tree of life to those who take hold of it, and happy are they who support it. Its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its paths are peace. Turn us to thee, O Lord, and let us return; renew our days as of old.”
Mitzvah Day 2013
Wednesday, December 25
Registration opens to the public on
Monday, November 25
Contact the Volunteer Center of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh at 412-992-5209 for more information or to register.