Take Me Home

Take me home

Take me back to the labyrinth-like streets

Let me once again rest my eyes

On the colorful characters

And devout souls

Living higher than life itself

I am waiting patiently

Til I can board a bus to anywhere

Where every ride feels like

The first one I took

Where the speeding cars

And clear skies

Told me that I am home

I'm sitting in darkness

While I wait for the light

I'm living in night

But you're my new day

So here I sit waiting

Wanting

Wishing

But deep down

I know the truth

I need to return

I need to come home.

Shh...

We act on scraps of information--sifting half-remembered directions that we can hardly separate from instinct (1). Is this not how we go about our lives? Most times, we don’t know the whole story, but we rely on vague details that seem to fit, and spread rumors and lies like a Californian wild-fire, never mind who we may burn in the process. When a new bit of information gets out, suddenly everyone is an expert, has an opinion and must give his two cents. But… brevity is the soul of wit (2), and we must learn to just… shhh… keep your opinion for yourself… restrain yourself from pressing the “comment” button… hold back your “sharp tongue” from unleashing a fury of uneducated statements and blatant disregards from the laws by which we follow…

“Siyag l’chachma shtika…” The wise man knows when to shut his mouth… better to be thought of as a fool then to open your mouth and remove all doubt…. Yes, you may be right… but shhh… hold back… for just one moment… for just one second, stop your lips from moving… shhh… revel in the silence of swallowing your big ideas and smart ideals… that are rather not idealistic… can you back yourself up with irrefutable facts and proof? Do you have the signature of an expert on the matter or a Rav on the barrage of well-worded comebacks that you want to spit out?

Were you there when the accident happen? Are you a posek on the ways of the world? Are you certain you know what you are saying? The degradation of society is a man who doesn’t know when to keep quiet… when a man… or a woman has so much to say… and doesn’t understand that it isn’t the time to say it… our history is filled with those spoke when they should have kept silent… and they paid dearly for their actions… (Shmuel HaNavi (3)… Shlomis bas Divri... (4). They lost clarity… lost Yerusha…

And so you wonder, what is the reward for silence? Is it really worth it to hold back one moment of satisfaction for… something else?

Yesh Sachar L’P’Ulasech (5)… Rochel kept quiet when her sister Leah was under the chuppah… she had every right to scream, “NO! He’s mine!” Yet she held back her tongue during that moment… and at the appropriate time, she gave the signs… then withdrew into silence… and for that, her children were redeemed…(Yirmiyahu)

And so too… if we… just… shh… we will… be… redeemed… the day shall yet come when the maidens rejoice… when the old men and young dance together (6)… when we will dance into the streets of Yerushalayim… so please… for the sake of redemption… for the sake of salvation… for the sake of your nation… just please… shhh….


1. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Tom Stoppard
2. Hamlet, William Shakespeare
3. Melachim Aleph
4. Chumash Shemos
5. Yirmiyahu, Perek Lamed Aleph
6. Yirmiyahu

The Magic Burns Bright

The days drifted to an end
And hearts were heavy with wonder
What would happen to it all
The magic of this summer?

The last bus left
But we left our hearts behind
Still a sense of hope
Slipped into our minds

Because when there is so much love
And so much to give
You learn that although it's difficult
Fond memories can be relived

The fight continues
Every day, it's a battle field
But you have an army of friends
Who will never let you yield

With laughter, joy and constant support
They stand by you every moment of every day
They are the ones with the power
To take the pain away

The magic still exists
There are those who perform it with care
A constant glow sparkles in the night
A reminder that friends are always there

Sometimes it's hard
And you want to give up and give in
But we stand by you firmly
Child, you will win

And while we stand to fight for you
You give us the power to persevere
Until we are all together dancing
In Yerushalayim, IYH, this coming year.