Eikev, Because Re’eh, See

Because, eikev, we came
from Egypt and saw
our mothers and fathers
wander and perish,
because we have lived too long
in the storm-tossed deserts,
have not yet seen how any land
might welcome us
with milk and honey.

Because, eikev, we need each other
and sometimes like Yaacov
we must hold on to the heel
of another to make it through
the dark passage and become confused
about when to let go. We hold on
through storms, pandemics,
through famines and oppressions
until re’eh, we see a cleft, a foothold
on the smooth rock face.

And with our own eyes, re’eh,
we see a thread of light
moving out from the uncomforted
dark of Av, the first silver glint
of Elul, calling : ani l’dodi v’dodi li,
and so we see: this is our Torah,
where we belong, beloved between
the mountains of blessing
and the mountains of curse,
gathered under the waxing light
of the moon, a new forgiving
year just beyond the horizon
as Tishrei, tenderly bends towards us
and our remaining
tasks of repair.