Enlightenment Opens the Doors of Eternity

Enlightenment Opens the Doors of Eternity

(Reflection on the Haftorah of the first day of Shavuot)

(Ezekiel 1:1-28; 3:12)

Enlightenment opens the doors of eternity,

Sublime to the human spirit, to kindle

Its essence, to catch the flame and light the fire

Of passion for truth to justice.

The Supreme Being, Creator of all,

Ineffable to description in words,

Is discovered in stillness, removed from chaos

And appears through awesome signs and symbols;

Heard, seen, only by the Spirit’s breath of life

In meditated vision of a dimension,

Always awaiting discovery of the Chariot

To travel internal possibilities

By which to ascend the heights of being

For peace on earth, waiting to be awakened.

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Repetition of History Awaits Response

(Reflection on the Second Day of Shavuot)

(Habakkuk 2:20-3:19)

A repetition of history shows

That lessons have not been internalized.

There is no empty passage of time brought

Before us, lost to the annals of time;

Yet, they occupied space in pain without gain;

Taken a toll on generations of lives,

Without the attention or care of humanity

For the well-being of fellow travelers,

Neighbors living side by side, blind, deaf and mute

To slandered truth and silence to injustice,

Unresponsive to persecution

And of decency

In face of discrimination.

And every truth that is to be upheld

Needs a beacon of light to guide;

And awaken the spirit, given at birth

To direct the mission of the world to fruition.