When
you are hidden from others
i
When you grow a crop, you bring the first fruits before
God.
You say: I have
come to the Land that HaShem has sworn…to us.
And you respond before
the priest with the long story of God’s
kindness—from the days of your ancient father
until now, until this fruit.
*
When you finish tithing you declare: I have removed the tithes from
my house, I have given my tithes away—and now You, God, bless Your people Israel.
*
When you enter the Land, the whole nation will stand upon
two mountains.
The Levites—the tribe of the priests—will respond: pronouncing curse upon whomever does evil in secret.
And
the entire nation will respond: Amen.
ii
When you speak of the fruit of your open field, you speak,
and you respond.
When you speak of the tithes behind the walls of your house, you speak, and you ask God to
respond.
When we speak of dark secrets, we respond to one another.
iii
And so the more hidden you become, the more you must converse—bringing
others’ voices to you.
Because it is not
good that Man should be alone.
___________
Gilad
Shalit—Gilad ben Aviva— turns 25 this Shabbat. He was abducted by Hamas in 2006.
He is still hidden. Please pray to HaShem to return him happily to his family.
Shabbat shalom, Abe
___________
If you enjoyed this thought, please share it with a friend.
Please continue to pray for Ahuvah Rachel bat Orah, and for
Rachel Tovah bat Yehudit Esther.