We have been traumatized.Â
October 7th pushed us into the realmÂ
of thought,Â
of argument,
of sides.
That pit in the bottom of our gut,
the stone of separation,Â
is begging for hearts to be
breathed into softeningÂ
even as our thoughts have lined upÂ
to take us into battle.Â
IsraelLit. ''the one who struggles with God.'' Israel means many things. It is first used with reference to Jacob, whose name is changed to Israel (Genesis 32:29), the one who struggles with God. Jacob's children, the Jewish people, become B'nai Israel, the children of Israel. The name also refers to the land of Israel and the State of Israel. has been made to feel unsafeÂ
in the very body of Israel.Â
The existential threatÂ
has cast us to the furthest reaches
away from our center.Â
Prayer, the journey of transcendence,Â
is paradoxical –Â
through individual bodies,
We leave our bodiesÂ
in order to become
one collective body.
Prayer, the sacred blessing whereÂ
all our limbs can be rewoven
returning us into our whole.
Prayer,
the act
of ourÂ
reclamation.Â
