Monday, May 29, 2023

Techinot (Prayers)


I'm not a religious person, and I certainly don't define myself as such. However, I do believe in God and in the power of prayer to Him.                                                                            

I've got a small, cute book  with a fine brown leather cover in my possesion. It's a techinot  (plural of techina) book -  a collection of personal prayers, written mostly from the female point of view. These prayers cover all aspects of life: health, finance, success, longevity, old age, birth giving, poverty; you name it, it has it.

front cover

I've mentioned this little book in a previous post-  a post written on the subject of leather (animal skin) as a popular  material for coats/bags/ purses - and entitled 'Cool versus Cruel' (31.1.2016).

back cover

I enjoy reading in this book as the prayers are written so beautifully that they sound more like poetry to me. The language is hebrew. There's also an english translation of 'techinot', but I'm not familiar with it.

I wanted to buy the book for a person I care for, but I was told at the store that this version was  sold out. There are other formats if one is interested.

Anyway, I consider this tiny book , the most important book in my life. Unlike other books in my possession, this one is not for sale/ donation/ giving away. It's always with me - relevant , helpful, and making me feel good.


59 comments:

  1. Will you share some of the prayers with us, Duta?

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    1. Here's an example for you:
      Before going to a doctor's appointment, there's this little prayer (in hebrew):
      "God Almighty, I believe in good faith, that health is in your hands only. So please, make this doctor I'm going to, your messenger and help him find the right cure for me".

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    2. Oh, that's a nice one. Who wrote the prayers?

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    3. Right. This is a collection of prayers from various sources , edited by "Set Masoret" (Masoret means tradition). I bought it some ten years ago in the religious city of Bnei-Brack.

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  2. I love that. I have a little scroll in a tiny tube to wear around your neck, with a Hebrew prayer for safe travel in it. It was translated for me. Similar idea, perhaps, very immediate situations.

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    1. The safe travel prayer is a hit. It comes in all kinds of little cards and people place them in purses and pockets. Haven't seen the scroll around the neck, but it sounds like a good idea.

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  3. Replies
    1. It is wonderful if one believes the prayers are answered. I tend to believe that.

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  4. I am not a believer but am so glad to hear that this small book brings you comfort. And the example you quoted is powerful.

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  5. It does look wonderful Duta, and and it brings you comfort when you read it, maybe a life saver by the sound of it..

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    1. It does bring comfort and peace of mind to those who believe in it.

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  6. I wonder if there is a prayer to help a sick parent, spouse, sibling or child. I understand the book is for the comfort of the praying person and will not save a family member if the disease is incurable. But it is the worst time in life and any support would make an important difference.

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    1. There's emphasis on health and disease, so I suppose one could find a prayer to help a sick family member. I wish I had the book years ago, when my parents were alive.

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  7. It does sound like a wonderful little book to have and to go to on such stressful occasions. Prayer is always important.
    One of my favorite things I found of my grandmother's was a quote book. And I have a friend who ask me each year to send her a new book of quotes. The theme is kindness and positive thoughts.

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    1. Prayer is very important on stressful occasions. It can eliminate stress and help create a wishful situation. Kindness and positivity of thought is always welcome.

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  8. Comfort comes from different places for people. Yours is beautiful and tangible with words that inspire. My is in nature. We are lucky to have such comfort in our lives.

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    1. I pray not just for comfort, but for help. Sometimes, I get the help I've asked for, and my belief in prayers, then, becomes stronger.

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    1. You mean, the booklet? Yes, it does. The brown cover is charming, the quality of the paper , fine!

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    2. yes;) my family is very religious

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    3. Well, that's OK Kathy. 'To each his own', as they say.

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  10. That's a special book indeed

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  11. It's nice that it means that much to you.

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    1. Believing in God, in prayers , makes me feel a better person. I sometimes add to the prayer a word or two of my own, and that means a lot to me.

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  12. It's wonderful that you have a special book that offers comfort and positive thoughts for you in times of need or reflection.

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    1. True, Bill. We live in a stressful, hard world, so I would recommend a book such as this to anyone for positivity, comfort, and reflection.

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  13. What a special book for you to read and find comfort. I no longer go to church myself as I am too busy, but I still believe in God and the power of prayer. Janice

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    1. Yes, going to church takes time, and the service is for the general not for the personal, giving one the feeling of a tiny dot in the universe.

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  14. What a special book, and it's beautiful too!

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    1. Right. It's beautiful outwards, and special inwards.

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  15. Sounds like a wonderful book filled with God's inspiration, Duta.
    Blessings!

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    1. 'God's inspiration' - exactly, Martha.
      Blessings to you too!

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  16. The times we are presently living in can be so stressful. Having a book like this sounds a comfort.

    All the best Jan

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    1. In times like these, we're particularly looking for God's guidance and support. I find it through this little book.

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  17. Having a relationship with the God of one's understanding makes life flow much more smoothly.

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    1. Definitely. I'm interested in a direct approach to God, not through a religious organization of some kind (church, synagogue, shrine etc..). The prayer enables me personal, direct approach.

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  18. I also think so, Heather. The design on the cover is very attractive!

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  19. Replies
    1. Agreed. It's lovely inside, outside, and also a good companion.

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  20. Prayer is a powerful connection to God. I love reading the old prayers of those who have gone before. There is richness in the words and in the context in which they were written. Your book is certainly a treasure!

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    1. Indeed. There's richness of thought, and power in those prayers. I consider this little book a treasure which gives me much pleasure and satisfaction when reading in it.

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  21. Checked the library. They don't have it. I would be interested in reading it.

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    1. You won't find it in a library, Catarina. Go to the nearest judaica shop and you could either buy a techinot booklet or get advice where you can just browse through it.

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  22. It sounds like a treasure.
    Take special care. Sandra sandracox.blogspot.com

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    1. Of course. It's a pleasure and honor for me to take care of a valuable book like this one.

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  23. I love this, Duta. Love what it means to you, how beautiful it is and that it sounds like poetry, which I think prayer should be to really make the message accessible. Lovely.

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    1. And I love your comment, Jeanie. Through some sort of poetic style, the message of the prayer is made more accessible.

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  24. My beliefs are similar to yours. Your prayer book sounds so meaningful, a great treasure filled with words of wisdom.

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  25. I'm glad we have similar beliefs, Linda. My little prayer book is definitely meaningful to me.

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  26. I'm not a religious person, either. As a child every Sunday I attended Sunday School at one of our local Presbyterian Churches...but that is a long time ago. :)

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    1. I'm pretty sure your Sunday School has contributed a lot of good things to your overall education, though part of a religious church frame.

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  27. I am not a religious person either, however I believe more in philosophy like hindu, buddha etc. Difficult to explain. I think if you are a good and honest person and helpful to others, that's enough religion. Anyway it's all man made, and all religions pray to god to win a war !! Absurd.

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    1. Well, religion like science is man-made. That's OK - made by people for people.
      However, I distinguish between personal faith and organized faith ( organized by church, synagogue, mosque, shrine). I'm for the personal, direct approach to faith, to God. I believe it both helps me and makes me a better person.

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  28. It's a beautiful book and I'm glad it brings you so much comfort and joy.

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    1. Thank you Alicia for your kind words. I agree with you: it's beautiful and brings me much joy and comfort.

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  29. Thank you for sharing such a lovely book and I hope it continues to bring you peace of mind

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    1. That's my hope too of the little book - to keep on bringing me peace of mind.

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