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