Aleinu

TRANSLATION

Our calling is to praise the Living Source. Our duty is to make known the greatness of the One Creator, who trusts us to be guardians of the earth and messengers of Torah; who gives us a destiny shared with all human beings, and who binds our lives to theirs. And so we bend, and give thanks before the Blessed One whose realm is unfathomable, whose sovereignty over all makes all life holy and precious.

INTENTION

Several years ago, Temple Israel decided to adopt a new version of the Aleinu prayer. The original, traditional text focuses on Jewish chosenness and the idea that someday non-Jews will know and accept Jewish truth. This is neither the theology nor the ethics of this community. We replaced the traditional text with this new version which focuses on our responsibility as Jews and human beings in this complicated world.