I don't spend too much time thinking about God.
As a full time cantor serving a Conservative synagogue, that's decidedly a strange thing for me to say. I fill my professional hours leading services, literally singing praises to God. I joyfully teach kids and adults how to chant the words of the Siddur, as well as the proper way to recite a haftarah or read from the Torah. Isn't most of my time devoted to God?
In fact, while I find the poetry of our prayers beautiful, and constantly connect with the meaning of the texts, I look at them more as an expression of our humanity and potential. The Hebrew word for "prayer"—l'hitpalel—is a reflexive verb, meaning that prayer, by definition, is something that affects one's own being, rather than words spoken to appease a distant deity. When I recite the Motzi before eating, I look at that as a wonderful moment to stop and be grateful: a magnificent chain of events—growing, harvesting, transporting, and preparing—culminated in having this food on my plate. The Motzi becomes a way to connect us with that process while expressing our gratitude for the other people involved.
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