Hear oh Israel, Our G-D is One!! Have you forgotten the cry of Our people? The words of Our prophets, Utterances of the Almighty Himself? You who tear apart the land, Know the answers in profound depths of essence, Yet evil inclination shuts your minds, Closes your ears To the voice that endlessly cries within your soul… Return!!!!!!!! Lament your losses, demand respite… The blood of our ancestors screams to YOU - Defend the land!!!!!! Protect the land!!! Hold dear the land…. Behold - It Is G-D’s Land!!!! Hashem, my G-D for all eternity: From the depth of my soul I entreat YOU Lend me YOUR ear... Do not YOU allow Our enemies to rise… They are YOUR enemies, YOUR adversaries, foes, opponents, We are the fools, petulant children, The ones who stray, Drifters, wanderers, YOUR Creations…YOUR Chosen!!! YOUR spark, deep inside US - It Lives, It Grows, It Loves… * * *
Power and might possesses the infidel - Evil their desire, Destruction their aim I pray: Harm not YOUR abiding children, For they bleed YOUR blood… Do not be deaf to my cries, My entreaties for compassion… They laugh at your world, scorn us…. Not us, but YOU!! Arise my defender, Arise!!! Return to Our side! Make known YOUR unearthly power Now!!!! Tsunamis, hurricanes, natural disasters - All measures of YOUR might, Not enough!! They will not see, will not believe!! Ishmael has risen, has overpowered YOUR folk, Claiming Defeat of Our Land, of Our G-D… Our mothers mourn, our son’s die, Our lives scattered in every corner of the globe… I understand with bleeding heart, with broken soul The reasons of YOUR anger… YOU have given so much, Asked so little, We have not forgotten, yet we are lost… Scattered in YOUR Diaspora, Like sheep in the wilderness, straying from truth… My G-D, perceive my prayers, my yearnings… Conquer for YOUR people the dark side of Our natures, The side that questions, Refuses to accept Commandments, laws, eternal truths. YOU gave the land to hold, to keep – We dispose, rescind, withdraw, annul – Shame upon those who do not hear- Shame upon those who corrupt, pollute, Defile YOUR land- Shame upon those who do not fear reprisal, YOUR wrath, YOUR power, The might of YOUR words!!! Forgive my G-D those who look away… Set them apart as in days of yore… But those who suffer for YOUR land, Who believe, who fight, not to forsake, Reward and free from shackles of enslavement! Open hearts and souls to peace and justice; Replenish the spirit of those who seek YOUR ways, Remunerate, compensate, and reward the keen of heart, End suffering of YOUR people Those who serve YOUR truth. Send Moshiach to free the blind, soothe the sick, Fulfill the promise - return the faithful, Set free the captive - shame the convict… Peace be YOUR mantle, Joy YOUR shield, Love OUR reward Immediately, today, forever! Amen August 16. 2006 Vida Sana, Puiggari, Entre Rios, Argentina Painfully inspired by the return of the Gush Katif
*********************** Exodus
A Personal Odyssey
Enslaved, Caged, Imprisoned, A people bound to their G-d, Frightened, anxious, laboring oppression Beaten, diminished, dehumanized, degraded; Daring diversity, dis-similar from the lot… Accepting, long-suffering, faithful yet true - Trusting the Unknown, Unquestioning their lot…. Awaiting the promise of Ages… Time is here!! Blood streaks the doors, The Obedient Ones saved - “Ha Leila Hazeh” This night - It differs from others – United we survive!! Hashem walks Mitzrayim Liberating, invigorating, empowering, identifying Blessing His people - Redemption will follow! Death to the foe Geula’s rays illuminate the morning dew… Behold Freedom - Hashem’s Embrace * * *
Did YOU wander the desert? Did YOU hear the VOICE? Did YOU VOW to believe? Did YOU turn your heart to stone? Did YOU question…or did you accept? Did YOU reason, or did you demand? Were YOU faithful…or did you fail? We stood together, you and I at Sinai! Your eyes staring into molten lava of glittering gold, Mine mute and teary, peeled to the Mountain, You joining the dancing, defiling the laws, I trembled, quivered, praying for truth! When the earth ripped open, swallowed, tearing apart I lost you then – Mourning my love…. Yet loving and obeying my G-d….
* * * Lifetimes have passed The Gilgul returns; I recognize you now, hoping that you’d learned. AGAIN you chose your Life! And I chose my G-D!! For a moment I mourn my love… Yet for eternity and beyond I will again choose to love my G-d.