Sabbath Prayer for the Dodgers

O Holy One, Creator of light and leather,

the Ultimate Umpire who shaped the heavens like a field of dreams,

You said, “Let there be light,”

and soon thereafter proclaimed, “Play Ball!” …

and there was baseball.

You dressed the diamond in living green and called it tov (good),

now guide our Dodgers to play tov me’od (very good indeed).

Yotzer Or (Creator of Light),

[even as we know You don’t choose sides in a ballgame],

we Dodgers baseball fans beseech You nonetheless:

Bless Mookie with the momentum of Moses,

Freddie with the fierce focus of Joshua,

grant Shohei the strength of Samson, and

Will Smith with the calm that calls the strike.

Deliver unto our Dodgers catchable balls and divine double plays,

and may their teamwork mirror Torah study,

each one pushing the others toward excellence,

each inning a commentary on connection.

Help us, too, to enjoy this Shabbat menuchat hanefesh (this soulful rest),

to breathe deeply,

to find wonder in the rhythm of Your world.

As we gather to witness the wonder of the game,

let the crack of the bat echo like Amen,

let the crowd’s cheer rise like Halleluyah,

and when the last out is caught (securing a Dodger win),

may Shabbat’s calm descend like the soft light after sunset,

sending us round the bases of blessing,

until, at last, we run home.

Ken yehi ratzon (so may it be).

And may all God’s people say:

Go Dodgers! ⚾️✨