Penina V. Adelman, a social worker in the Boston area, is a scholar in residence at the Women’s Studies Research Center at Brandeis University. Her books, articles, and speeches address women and spirituality, women in the Bible, and women’s rituals in Judaism. Adelman helped to establish Rosh Hodesh (New Moon) ceremonies for women.
Come, faithful community, let us sing
To Him who dwells on high, your creator, O Jacob.
Come, let us sing.
O garden dweller, raise song and hymns:
Young and old, all together…
Joyous, free, the bird will sing,
Trembles on his throne the king,
Trembling is not good for me—
Like a bird I sing so free,
As winds prance,
In a trance,
Wild and blind, I roam and dance,
One street…
The sea
tore a rib from its side
and said:
Go! Lie down there, be
a sign that I
am great and mighty.
Go
be a sign.
The canal
lies at my window,
speechless.
What can be sadder
than water
without…