Rosh Hashana 5784

Rosh Hashanah 'm standing in the sanctuary, on the bimah

It is Shabbat. It's Rosh Hashanah. Year 5784.

The cup of wine, after blessings

The Sabbath candles flicker in the Sabbath still.

And in that golden flicker

I see the five millenia of history

Flashing in the candle light

I see the Torah on Mt. Sinai

And the destruction of the golden calf.

I see the slaughter of the Inquisition,

The pogroms and the ashes of the camps.

The five millenia haven't been for naught

The candle throws shadows on the scars

The scars run deep. They bleed at times

When history alight with haunting glow of hate and death, and tears, and plight.

Those scars are hard to heal,

I know

The heavy burden of my tribe's plight.

I also know that Jewish history is not without simcha, or without growth, without love.

Our scars are soothed.

We know healing

When history allows us to turn the page

We witness Einstein and the birth of Israel

With Ben Gurion and Meir immersing into freedom's shining light.

I am standing in the sanctuary, the year 5784

I see the candles, the kiddish cup

I heard the shofar, Rabbi's sermon

I'm fully here in the present

God give me energy to keep the light.

I wish you health

I wish us peace

And to be inscribed in the Book of Life.

Shana tova

AD

9.17.23