minor liturgical observation

[cellio]

I noticed something tonight during a class on a different topic. Every morning we say a prayer that begins as follows: "Elohai neshama shenatatah bi tehorah hi", "My God, the soul you have given me is pure". But given that English I would expect "shenatatah li" -- gave to me. Instead, it says bi, which seems closer to "in me". In one way it makes no difference; we're saying God placed my soul within me. In another way, though, that's kind of neat -- "bi" seems more intimate, more reminiscent of that very first soul-insertion, when God breathed the soul into the nostrils of ha-adam, the first human.

I suspect my experience of this prayer might be a little different tomorrow morning.

Comments

[patsmor.livejournal.com]

That's a terrific difference, and lovely imagery. Thank you!

[cellio]

My rabbi pointed out that this intimate breath is balanced at the end of the torah, when God takes Moshe's life with a kiss. (The midrash says the angel of death refused the job and God did it himself.)

[patsmor.livejournal.com]

That's pretty cool.