Ayeka?
We cry out, Adonai.
Where are You?
You who they say hears our cries,
You who they say frees the captives.
Ayeka?
Where, God?
Where are You?
Do you hear them?
The babies and the children and the grown-ups held hostage?
The pregnant and the birthing women of Gaza, the children, the babies, the men who only want their loved ones safe?
The soldiers, weary and wounded?
Israel?
Your People?
Do you hear the sound of us?
We are here,
in the Garden,
knocking on Your gates.
All of them.
We are scared.
We can’t believe this is where we are
and
we can.
We are sad
and we are
so
very
angry.
Ayeka?
Where are You?
Our bloods are calling out to you from the ground,
our voices choked with dust,
our hearts broken,
broken open and just
broken, and
stretching to hold all of the things we don’t understand.
Adonai, Eloheinu, shema koleinu.
We need another bite of the fruit.
We want to bless you,
we are holding onto this brakha with the skin of our teeth,
Barukh atah Adonai
Eloheinu melekh haolam,
matir asurim.
Blessed are You who frees
all
of the captives.
