Let It Burn

lit candle, thick and white, next to white petal on wood table against black background
Dedicated to the memory of my brother, Garry Lee Zimmerman, written on the yahrzeit of his suicide in 1994. And dedicated to our mother.

It is a strange thing to say,
But I will say it, anyway.
“I am grateful, mom,
For your death.”
Between these days
Of liminal space –
Of movement
And 
Of standing still –
While all of shimmering Creation
Rushes toward 
Searing, 
Relentless, 
Brilliant,
Rakhamim
As it illuminates 
Incandescent gates of 
Holy Olam Haba.
 
Blessed burning of yahrzeit candle
Kindling boundary, 
Of mundane, 
Beautiful,
Yet very temporary,
Human body.
 
Divine Outer Light
And Divine Inner,
Joining, 
Conjoining
During Days of Awe
Alongside my Path of Mourning.
Turning.
Returning.
Light into Light;
Life into Life;
Love into Love.
 
I am grateful, mom,
For your kisses of light
Helping reveal,
To me,
What is nothing more than
A veil. 
Facebook
Email

Ritualwell content is available for free thanks to the generous support of readers like you! Please help us continue to offer meaningful content with a donation today. 

Related Rituals

The Reconstructionist Network

Serving as central organization of the Reconstructionist movement

Training the next generation of groundbreaking rabbis

Modeling respectful conversations on pressing Jewish issues

Curating original, Jewish rituals, and convening Jewish creatives

Support Ritualwell’s free offerings and events and receive a weekly guide with prompts and practices for each week of the Omer.

Ritualwell is here for you! Join us for community eventsand creative inspiration to do this spiritual work. 

Get the latest from Ritualwell

Subscribe for the latest rituals, online learning opportunities, and unique Judaica finds from our store.

The Reconstructionist Network