Hakhel – Alone should be a stone and even a stone should not be alone

Hakhel- Alone Should Be A Stone And Even A Stone Should Not Be Alone

Hakhel, alone should be a stone; and

Even a stone should not be alone.

Each one needs someone.

Hakhel represents a coming together.

A community, that prays as one,

Has a minyan of ten for a quorum.

In a Shmita Year, after six years

Of harvests, the land is given a rest.

The land recuperates its energy

And we recognize G-d-given synergy,

When we, in community, thus praise G-d

By gathering to honor each other.

We then laud G-d, in everyone of us

Each with different gifts, within for all.

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The Temple Mount gathers the assembly

That convenes to hear the king read the Torah.

Hakhel brings together the young, the old,

Men, women, scholars, priests, lay people, all.

After six years, the time has come

During Sukkot, to reflect, to stop, take stock

With thanks for the six years of harvests,

The spirit is fed with study, prayer

And celebration; as on the eighth year,

The work begins with its new cycle,

Inspired by words of Torah by which to guide

A nation to work in unity, as one.

Alone should be a stone; and even a stone

Should not be alone. Each one needs someone.