Journeys

As the book of b’midbar comes to a close,
we listen as our ancestors recount their wanderings.

Their journey began as they left the tyranny of slavery
and entered a vast desert wilderness.

On their way, our ancestors
sang with joy,
wept with sorrow,
celebrated and raged
as they sought to discover
how they should live
and who they could be.

In the rawness of the wilderness,
they came face to face with their own demons.

Fear, shame and doubt
gave way to cruelty
and they attacked, conquered and destroyed
with the brutality of tyrants.

This is a difficult legacy,
one that demands a reckoning
and clear determination to pursue a different way.

We humans become so fearful
as we face the challenges of the wilderness,
the uncertainties and tremblings of life.

We can grow so narrow,
suspect, contemptuous,
and lose touch
with the cords that bind us to each other
and all creation.

As a result we are able to lash out
conquer and destroy,
believing that these actions are necessary,
justifiable, right.

We must continually widen our perspective.
Yes, we are all members of a tribe,
a family, a community, a country, a people.

And we are all creatures of earth,
manifestations of a mysterious cosmic unfolding,
all of us together,
connected, whole.
One.

Let us seek relationship.
Let us strive for understanding.
Let us be determined to unleash
compassion again and again and again.

May mercy reign.
May justice triumph.
May peace prevail.

Rabbi Yael