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God Squad: The origin of a good night prayer

God Squad

Rabbi Marc Gellman God Squad

Rabbi Marc Gellman writes about religion for Newsday.

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As I approach my 74th birthday, I recall saying a nightly prayer as a child: Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my Soul to keep; If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my Soul to take. I wonder where this prayer came from.

-- J., via email

Like the parable of the long spoons, which I discussed recently, this is also a famous spiritual gem whose origins are obscure....

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