Testament of Freedom

היום שלשים יום שהם ארבעה שבועות ושני ימים בעמר
Today is thirty days--that is four weeks and two days--of the omer
גבורה שבהוד
A day of strength in a week of humility

When my own words won't come, I share the words of others.
Here is Ruth Brin's poem for this week's Torah parashah, Behar.

TESTAMENT OF FREEDOM

The people of America read
about the sabbatical year
and the year of the jubilee
as a testament of freedom.

In the beginning they engraved
the words of Leviticus on the Liberty Bell:
"Proclaim liberty throughout the land
unto all the inhabitants thereof"

Generations later, the slaves,
in hopes of their freedom,
sang "The year of the Jubilo"
and "Go down, Moses."

You made us to be free;
ou set the s park
in every uman heart.

Now help us fan the s park to flame,
to light our way,.
Now help us brak the chains,
tear down the walls.

Help us bring freedom at last
to all the world.

Invisible, Intangible

היום אחד ושלשים יום שהם ארבעה שבועות ושלשה ימים בעמר
Today is thirty-one days, which is four weeks and three days of the omer
תפארת שבהוד
A day of compassion in a week of humility

When words fail me, I turn to others. Ruth Brin is one of my go-to Jewish poets. I've used her poems in prayer services and as a way to transition from meditation. Here is one of my favorites:

Invisible, Intangible 

All the invisible things fill our days,
Music and love and laughter;
All the intangible things affect us,
Words and anger and prejudice 

You are invisible and intangible,
A God of moods and relationships.
Within us, you are the spirit of unity,
Beyond us, You are the guide to greatness. 

We pray to You with an invisible, intangible prayer.
You answer with a flaming sunset
And the touch of a baby's cheek.

Shabbat Shalom

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.