The Project Begins

Welcome to The Kavana Project. Our Mission: to analyze, define, and defy the space between “knowing what the words mean” and that thing we call Kavana. Or, as we say it over here, to bridge the gap between meaning and meaningful.
To wit: Operation Birchot HaShachar. We’ve created an image for each of the fourteen Morning Brachot- a small combo of text and art to reflect and inspire what we think about (or at least, try to remember to think about) while rushing to catch up to the Chazzan. Reflecting on what we reflect on led to The Questions We Face in Our Search for Kavana.
You may not agree with some pieces. You definitely won’t sympathize with all. Hopefully, the contrast will concretize your thoughts. Please, share those thoughts with us. This is a work in, you guessed it, Project: your ideas, your comments, and your response to the images are integral. There’s a comments button for a reason. So take a leisurely scroll down and remember to ask:
"WHAT'S MY KAVANAH?"








Project #1: Operation Birchot HaShachar (OBH)

Needed:
A Bracha
A Picture

(Shortcut to: Elokei Neshama, Sh'lo Asani Goy, Matir Assurim)

I superimposed the text of each morning bracha onto an image that expresses or inspires my desired Kavana. This entails two soul-searching tasks: contemplating what the bracha actually means to me and then imagining what artistic form represents and reminds me of that Kavana.

For brachot that present worlds of varying interpretations, OBH forces us to be specific: to declare which Kavanot matter to us, which move us, and which leave us unimpressed or insulted. For brachot that seem abstract or antiquated, OBH compels us to think hard before muttering another day's worth of unexamined prayer.

With the Almighty's help, I will post a new bracha every four days, with some words of explanation and- for the controversial ones- justification.

Tell me if you enjoy the product of my labor. Tell me if you disagree with them. Try it for yourself and find out what you really think about each bracha.

One More Time:
Elokei Neshama, Sh'lo Asani Goy, Matir Assurim

Posted by Ben Greenfield

1 comment:

Reuven Chaim Klein said...

Some of your pictures are inappropriate for one to look at or have in mind during davening.

October 8, 2010 at 1:04 PM

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