A new prayer for Transgender Day of Remembrance, November 20...
God, who answered our genderqueer ancestor Jacob when they wrestled with the Angel
May God answer us
God,
who answered our genderqueer ancestor Joseph when they were in the pit
May God answer us
God,
who answered our genderqueer ancestor Dina in the womb,
May God answer us
God,
who answered our genderqueer ancestor, Judge Devorah when they led Israel in
war
May God answer us
God,
who answered our genderqueer ancestor Yael when they defeated the enemy general
Sisera,
May God answer us
God,
who answered our genderqueer ancestor Judith when they defeated the enemy
general Holofornes
May God answer us
God,
who answered our genderqueer ancestor the Queen of Sheba when they impressed
King Solomon
May God answer us
God,
who answered the people of Corinth when they challenged the gender norms of
wearing their hair,
May God answer us
God,
who answered our asexual ancestor Mary Magdalene,
May God answer us
God,
who answered our genderqueer ancestor Mary, who learned at the feet of Jesus
May God answer us
God,
who answered our genderqueer ancestor Joan of Arc at Orleans,
May God answer us
God,
who answered our genderqueer ancestors at Dewey’s and Compton’s riots
May God answer us
God,
who answered our genderqueer ancestors at Stonewall
May God answer us
God,
who answers us in the face of unprecedented hate and vitriol
May God answer us
Rabbah Rona Matlow, DMin (Candidate) © 2023
Derived from the Selihah,
prayer for forgiveness מי שענה – Mi She’anah
– The One Who Answered. Original found in Rav Amram Gaon’s Siddur.