Ezekiel’s Abiding Lesson of History

Ezekiel’s Abiding Lesson of History

(Reflections on the Haftorah to Va’eira)

( Ezekiel 28 :25 to 29 :21)

Ezekiel spoke of tragedy, not despair,

Promises withheld and promises kept.

History’s dependable allies were rare;

True leaders kept vigil and had not slept.

Co-partners to history in the making

Recognize the Divine’s word as constant;

All else is temporary and fleeting;

Vigilance of danger must be continuous, not latent.

All of exile and redemption is based

On Ezekiel’s abiding lesson of history.

Hindsight is not enough, if lost, effaced;

Foresight is the prerequisite for mastery.

The future depends on absorbing the past

To ensure security for a state to last.