Yedid Nefesh. Av HaRaḥaman…
Is how I’ll begin the 28th of Tevet.
I’ll look out the window as the sky dims,
Your Voice clear just as the Shabbat Queen is welcomed in.
I’ll proclaim Your eternal Oneness,
And I’ll ask You to find favor in my rest.
I’ll recall the glory of Creation,
A remembrance from generation to generation.
The suns fall earlier on the 28th of Tevet,
So I’ll picture a return Home amid the flickering candles.
The smells fill the home with comfort,
The Malaḥim take their seats.
Yom HaShihi…
I’ll roar as I see tranquility in the reflection.
Then I’ll thank You for the bread,
For our meal of celebration.
I’ll read a bit before dozing off,
It’s around that time of the year when you hear fireworks.
It’s fine because I’ll be fast asleep by then,
A much needed rest.
I’ll rise to sing Songs of Praise,
To You, our King, for Your gift of rest.
The 28th of Tevet is a Sabbath before Rosh Ḥodesh,
So the tefillot will go on a bit longer.
Another meal,
This one is usually my favorite.
I’ll read and rest,
And return to the Synagogue for more tefillot.
A quick snack and a stroll around the block,
I’ll smile as the sky beams gold.
Back inside to smell the fragrances and to see the Light,
To distinguish between the Holy and the mundane.
Then it will be the 29th of Tevet, 5782 since Creation.
How beautiful and sublime! The article could have been called “Decolonize your year” in the “Decolonize your…” series, but the title does the job very succinctly and originally! Now the only missing link is “Decolonize your month” or something else to that effect and we have our time decolonized completely. Original piece! Yishar koah.
Yes! Thank you for this poem, Ari. It is exactly what I was thinking about.
And Meir, your are right! “Decolonize Your Month” is the next article (though not the last about time), to be published soon.
Chodesh tov!