An Infinity of Amens, by Rabbi Hanna Yerushalmi (15 October 2023)
Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=53323
open_content_license: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) 4.0 International copyleft license Date: 2023-11-11
Last Updated: 2024-06-01
Categories: Mourning, Pogroms & Genocide
Tags: 2023-2024 Israel–Hamas war, 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., English vernacular prayer, Prayers as poems, קינות Ḳinōt
Excerpt: "An infinity of amens" was written by Hanna Yerushalmi on 15 October 2023 in the aftermath of the massacres on Shemini Atseret 5784. . . .
Content:
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There are no words for this moment.
How are we to feel…
About the fires in the sand
And the black rivers of loss.
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And how the enemy unleashed horrors on them.
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There are not enough memorial candles…
For those forced to leave the hallways of their hearts.
Cut down, years before their time.
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And now everything, everything, everything
Will remember that they were there.
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There are no more tears,
For the nation-wide alerts,
For crimson stained pillowcases,
For a charred red tricycle,
For a desecrated woman,
A mother’s anguish, a father’s brokenness,
For the obliteration
Of every single, dear, treasured
One-and-only, life—an extinguished universe.
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There are no words.
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Nevertheless, we gather now with wounded hearts,
And we lift each other up with weary arms,
And we pray with shattered spirits for shalom, peace.
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Reeling…
Rising…
Reciting…
Ancient prayers and finding our voice,
Whispering an infinity of amens.
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“An infinity of amens” was written by Hanna Yerushalmi on 15 October 2023 in the aftermath of the massacres on Shemini Atseret 5784.
Contributor: Hanna Yerushalmi
Co-authors:
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Name: Hanna Yerushalmi
Bio: Rabbi Hanna Yerushalmi is a Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor (LGPC) with the State of Maryland. She earned a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Bowie State University, a CACREP certified program. She is a Nationally Certified Counselor through the National Board for Certified Counselors. Hanna has training and supervision working with clients recovering from domestic violence and sexual abuse, through her internship at the YWCA of Annapolis, as well as training working with clients struggling with addiction, through her practicum at Pathways, Anne Arundel Medical Center.
Website: http://www.listeningear.net
Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/hanna-yerushalmi
Featured Image:
Title: 71138419007-prayer-gathering-for-israel-6-m
Caption: An interfaith prayer Gathering for Israel held October 10, at Temple Beth Sholom synagogue in Suntree, Florida.(credit: Tim Shortt/Florida Today)