Waxing Poetic

It is easy to wax poetic

of the sun kissing the streets of Jerusalem,

her rays glimmering

even when she slips out of sight

It is easy to wax poetic

of Shabbat kissing the streets of Jerusalem,

as the wailing of the Western Wall begins to sing,

as the wafting aromas of challah begin to rise

As the days of the week

melt away,

the great poet

Chaim Nachman Bialik

waxed poetically:

The sun on the treetops no longer is seen.

Come gather to welcome the Sabbath Our Queen.

Behold her descending, the holy the blessed,

And with her the angels of peace and of rest.

It is easy to wax poetic

of the quiet of Shabbat

of the beauty of our homeland -

but 

for the peace of our Jerusalem

that oft flickers somewhere between

a luminous light and puddles of melted wax

may our prayers for peace

may our hope

may our work and

our fight

for peace in Israel -

inspire

ignite

and endure

potently beyond the pages

of a short Shabbat poem...

M'kor ha-Shemesh

Mi mizrach shemesh ad m’vo’o -

from the rising of the sun until its setting,

we thank you

O Source of our sun,

for your rays,

your people aglow in their basking bronze.

Mi mizrach shemesh ad m’vo’o -

from the rising of the sun until its setting,

we thank you

O Source of our sun,

for your warmth,

our fields and our hearts

abundantly nourished by your cycle of living.

Mi mizrach shemesh ad m’vo’o -

from the rising of the sun until its setting,

O Source of our sun,

shine down on the land of Israel,

and imbue her with a resilience to withstand

parched droughts and scorched relationships...

Or Chadash Al Tziyon Ta’ir,

as new light shines upon Zion -

M’kor ha-Shemesh,

O Source of our brilliant sun,

melt away strife

cultivate joy,

fill us with life,

and

may we merit

your radiant peace.

M'kor ha-Geshem

M’kor ha-Geshem,

O Source of rain,

we thank you for your nourishing waters.

M’kor ha-Geshem,

O Source of rain,

we thank you for your droplets

abundantly full

of life.

M’kor ha-Geshem,

pour out your blessings on the land of Israel,

water her with a resilience to withstand

rapid floods and parched droughts.

M’kor ha-Geshem,

O Source of these rains,

nourish us,

fill us with life,

and

douse

your people Israel

with overflowing peace.

Shelter-in-Peace

Shelter-in-place, you told us...

be vigilant

be calm

Shelter-in-place, you told us...

be careful

be caring

Shelter-in-place, you told us...

rest assured

rest with ease

Whether in Israel or Boston,

we praise You

O source of sheltered places,

and we thank You

O source of people who shelter us

for the sense of safety you allow us to feel inside our homes,

for the sense of safety you allow us to feel inside our shul,

and 

for the sense of safety you allow us once more to feel in our city...

Shelter-in-place, you told us,

but perhaps, O source of shelter,

You have enough experience with this

to know

what You really meant to say, 

what You really meant to pray for us

was

shelter-in-peace.