> Days of Wonder, Nights of Peace
Introduction

IMAGINE THE WORLD OF OUR ANCESTORS. The setting of the sun brought utter darkness, unbroken by the comfort of electric lights. The working day was fixed by the hours of available sunlight, and life was closely linked to the rhythms of the sun and the moon.

In our modern world, engineered conveniences have allowed us to break free from our dependence on natural light. But these conveniences have also weakened our link to the daily rhythms that can help give order to our lives.

Days of Wonder, Nights of Peace draws upon our ancient tradition of morning and evening prayers to help us give our children a sense of ordered, daily rhythm at those moments that are part of each and every day--waking up and going to bed. The songs included here, two for morning and two for evening, have been written with families in mind. Their simple yet powerful themes of thankfulness, everyday miracles, creation, and protection can help us teach our children to infuse with meaning even the routine parts of each day.

We hope that these songs, and the rituals you choose to develop around them, will allow you and your children to celebrate daily moments together in a way that is uniquely Jewish. for when our days have rhythm and meaning, when we experience joy and express gratitude for the miracle that is our world, then we can certainly begin each new day with wonder, and enter each night in peace.

L'shalom, Mah Tovu [HEBREW--L'shalom, Mah Tovu] ,

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