Welcoming the New Moon of Iyar

היום אחד חמשה עשר יום שהם שני שבועות ויום אחד בעמר

Today is fifteen days, which is two weeks and one day of the omer
חסד שבתפארת
A day of loving kindness in a week of compassion

Built into this practice is the realization that there will be days when the mind is blank. Rather than force the issue, I share this Ruth Brin poem, since tonight is the New Moon of Iyar.

The New Moon 

If God were the sun, the Israel might be
the moon,
her face reflecting His eternal light. 

Yes, Israel is like the moon, the moon
who waxes and wanes,
grows old, an then renews herself,
yet never leaves the skies. 

Faithfully, she reappears to walk the night,
on every room and tree and blade of grass 

Until the whole world turns to silver,
transformed from darkness to shimmering beauty. 

Yes, Israel, be like the moon,
renew your faith each generation. 

Even when the earth casts its shadow of
darkness,
faithfully reflect the light of God; 

Pour over the whole world
the moonlight beauty of holiness.