Hineini – Here I Am
In this week’s Torah portion, Vayeira, we find Avraham planting a tamarisk tree and calling upon God’s name — a simple yet profound act of devotion. Trees are living symbols of legacy; they grow long after we are gone, offering shelter and shade to those who come after us. In planting that tree, Abraham was grounding his faith, leaving a living reminder of connection and continuity.
This verse from Vayeira speaks deeply to me right now. Like Abraham, I am striving to plant seeds of love and faith in uncertain soil — to nurture what may one day take root beyond me. The prayer I wrote for this week, Seeking Connection, begins with the word Hineini — “Here I am.” It’s a phrase that echoes through Torah whenever someone shows up fully before God, not knowing what will be asked of them.
That’s how I feel as I accompany my daughter on her breast-cancer journey. It’s a path I wish we weren’t walking, yet I don’t get to choose the journey — only how I show up in each moment. And I choose to show up in love — love expressed through presence, compassion, and the courage to keep saying Hineini even when the way forward isn’t clear.
Being able to say Hineini requires an open heart and a willingness to be fully present — to God, to others, and to ourselves. Presence becomes sacred when infused with intention, when our words and actions grow from love.
Seeking Connection
(A Prayer for Parashat Vayeira)
Hineini. Here I am.
Seeking connection
to something greater than myself.
Hineini. Here I am.
On this day
may I be present
to the Miracle of being alive.
May I reach out
to those who are suffering,
and may I use my voice as a force for good.
May I have the courage
to do what is right, not what is easy.
May I have the strength to stand in my truth
while allowing others to stand in theirs.
May I not distance myself from myself.
May I not distance myself from You.
Your Love, Your Memory, Your Legacy
Abraham’s tree reminds me that every act of faith and love becomes part of a living legacy. We may not see the full flowering of what we plant, yet our words, kindness, and courage ripple outward in ways we can’t always imagine.
This piece was created on my husband’s seventh yahrzeit (anniversary of death) in 2017. His memory is a constant gift — one that continues to inspire me to show up in love and to use my innate gifts for Tikkun Olam (repairing the world). I consider myself to be Andy’s living legacy. The words I write help me feel connected to him and to the memory of the love we shared.
What does it mean to leave a legacy? For me, it’s about choosing to live with compassion, integrity, presence and love. To use my gifts to build community and to encourage others to make a difference in the world. Every conversation, every prayer, every brushstroke can be a seed of connection.
Thinking about legacy invites us to look inward — to ask how we want to be remembered, and how our daily choices can nurture connection and meaning. Here are this week’s journaling questions.
Journaling Questions
- What seeds of love, learning, or kindness are you planting today that might grow into your legacy?
- When have you answered the call of Hineini — showing up fully, even without knowing what would unfold?
- What practices help you stay rooted in connection — to yourself, to others, to the Divine?
- How can you use your presence, your words, or your creative gifts as a force for good?
Closing Blessing
May we plant trees of connection, hope, and compassion —
with roots that will hold steady when life’s winds blow strong.
May we have the courage to say Hineini — here I am —
to every sacred moment that calls us to presence.
And may the seeds of love we plant today grow into a legacy
of healing, kindness, and enduring light.