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Judy Diamond
Living the Dream

Our Shared Destiny

Israel, a remarkable people

passionate, opinionated

always pushing forward

with equanimity

despite everything.

The national tragedy still hanging

like heavy curtains at the theater

The personal tragedies playing out

like live drama sequels on replay

Grieving families, with sons, daughters,

spouses lodged inside

their thoughts, dreams,

emotions, and prayers,

like stencils,

the imprint or frame

of who their lost ones were

but with gaping blank spaces

of who they might have been

to love,

find partners,

create families,

parent the children already born,

or bring נַחַת to aging parents.

Like real stencils that etch out

beautiful designs,

what do the rest of us want to fill

those gaping blank spaces with?

What do we owe:

Those holy people

who died  על קידוש השם ?

Or our brave soldiers still fighting

complex urban warfare

in parched sand?

Or the thousands of wounded

who can’t remember their home outside

of the rehab hospital?

Or the hundreds of thousands of

refugees who awkwardly

create new lives

suspended in hotel rooms and lobbies?

Or the languishing hostages

trapped 40 feet underground

for longer than it takes for an embryo

to turn into a human being?

We don’t do any of them justice

or honor them

by disparaging one another

Chiloni vs. Haredi

Bibi haters vs. supporters

Left vs. Right

עד נצחון  vs. Bring them Home Now

Israelis vs. Diaspora Jews

We are at the cusp of

the 3 weeks before Tisha B’Av

We’ve known tragedy before

We will survive this too

as one people

under one G-d

bound by the same covenant

of over 3,000 years ago.

It is not easy, but

our way forward is

with kindness, tolerance and unity.

After all,

we share the same destiny.

So, עם ישראל

What are we waiting for?

Let’s come together

to pray with one voice:

שִׂים שָׁלוֹם, טוֹבָה וּבְרָכָה, חֵן וָחֶסֶד וְרַחֲמִים, עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל עַמֶּך

בָּרְכֵנוּ אָבִינוּ כֻּלָּנוּ כְּאֶחָד בְּאוֹר פָּנֶיךָ, כִּי בְאוֹר פָּנֶיךָ נָתַתָּ לָּנוּ

ה” אֱלֹהֵינוּ תּוֹרַת חַיִּים

וְאַהֲבַת חֶסֶד,

.וּצְדָקָה וּבְרָכָה וְרַחֲמִים וְחַיִּים וְשָׁלוֹם,

.וְטוֹב בְּעֵינֶיךָ לְבָרֵךְ אֶת עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּכָל עֵת וּבְכָל שָׁעָה בִּשְׁלוֹמֶךָ

Bestow peace, goodness, blessing, life, grace, kindness and mercy upon ourselves and upon all of Israel, Your people.

Bless us, our Father, all as one, in the light of Your countenance. For in the light of Your countenance, G-d our Lord, You have given us the Torah of life and a love of kindness, righteousness, blessing, mercy, life, and peace.

May it be favorable in Your eyes to bless Your people Israel at all times and at every hour with Your peace.

 

לעילוי נשמת מלכה בת חנוך

לעילוי נשמת יהודה בן יצחק

לעילוי נשמת רחל בת חנוך

לעילוי נשמת מרים בת חנוך

About the Author
Judy Diamond upended her life in the U.S. and moved to Jerusalem 2 1/2 years ago, fulfilling a decade-long dream. With a 30-year Wall Street career behind her, she currently works remotely in securities markets education. Writing has always been Judy's passion, a necessary way to process emotions through her life's journey. She is divorced with two young-adult children and a voracious reader. She is passionate about the Jewish people and Israel and seeks to make a meaningful impact beyond her own life. Outside of work and writing, Judy loves the outdoors, helping others, meaningful conversations, and hosting a wide variety of people for shabbat meals.
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