Uvah Letzion II
Can you imagine a young man and women deeply in love and committed to one another for life that are forced to be
apart for awhile due to unforeseen circumstances? The impending separation is so devastating not only because they
will be apart, but because the amount of time they will be apart is uncertain. Can you imagine the declarations of
love, fidelity and commitment pledged to one another before they separate? After the separation, can you imagine
the potency of the letters sent one to another with emotion and great anticipation of the time when they will be
together again? The longing for reconnection is palpable. These are the images that come to mind when I read and
chant the next nine verses of Uvah Letzion. Yet the couple is not a young man and woman; it is rather Hashem and
His beloved children, Israel.
The section after the Kedushah Desidrah of Uvah Letzion quotes nine verses from all of Tanach-The Bible, Prophets
and Writings. There is a verse from Divrei Hayamim Chronicles when King David delivers a farewell address to the
Jewish people as well as several verses from all over Tehillim – Psalms. Although the verses are quoted from
different books and chapters, there is one theme that exists throughout all of them-namely: The unstoppable,
unbreakable and inextricable connection that G-d maintains with the Jewish people forever.
The verses refer to G-d’s infinite patience and compassion; and that He is forgiving of iniquity and does not destroy.
We invoke His promises of truth and goodness that were sworn unto Avraham and Yaakov; as well as that G-d is our
salvation and will answer us on the day we call upon Him.
In Uvah Letzion I, we stated that one of the reasons offered as to why we say Uvah Letzion is that – There was a time
in history when the authorities of the land banned the recitation of Kedushah. In response our sages instituted that
we wait until after the Amidah and recite Kedushah twice in a subsequent prayer after the officials would have left
the scene. Therefore Kedushah was added to the end of prayers together with an Aramaic translation and to Shabbat
afternoon services.
It therefore fits beautifully that after we declare the Kedushah Desidrah in Hebrew as well as Aramaic, we chant
these nine verses depicting our eternal bond with our Creator.
Take Home Tip: It is our task, challenge and privilege to recognize and develop a relationship with our Father in
heaven, G-d. One of the ways we build a relationship is through communication. One of the ways we communicate
with G-d is through prayer. Like all other relationships our relationship with G-d requires effort, attention and skill.
Reciting Uvah Letzion with concentration and understanding reinforces our powerful connection and relationship
with Hashem.