Eli Eli

Sorry for the lack of posts in the last few days.  Technology has not smiled well on me as of late.  It seems to like me again, so I have faith.

Recently, we marked the 10th anniversary of September 11.  I remember exactly where I was when it happened: Mr. Szeles's 8th grade US History.  Let me rephrase that: that's when I found out.  I don't remember which class I was in when the events actually happened. 

During the course of the day, the rumors flied: the Towers had fallen down, the White House was under attack, war broke out, etc.  I did not get the full story until I got home that day, and my sister and I were glued to the TV screen.  For the next few days, as new developments and theories developed, I had developed a new appreciation for the Headline News Network.  Right now, I remember a clear moment when Dan Rather, then head anchor of CBS News, broadcast a message about the day and the hope that we remember it.  This message was on every Viacom network: MTV, Nickelodeon, CBS News, TvLand, and so forth.  I knew something was major about that day.

10 years later: where are we?  We've invaded a number of countries in an attempt to eradicate terrorism, and yet terror remains.  I'm far from saying that we need to send troops to every country.  Rather, we should teach our children diligently to understand the world, to accept and understand people, and to treat others with respect.

One tradition at the HUC I hope to adopt with my student pulpits or real life pulpit is to say a prayer for the soldiers of the nation at every Torah service.  While the HUC in Jerusalem says one for the Israeli Army (Zahal), the words could be adapted for the American / Canadian / whatever army.  The sacrifices these people make, their families make, the country makes on their behalf is worth more than mere words, but at least it keeps us informed of what is going on. 

"Eli Eli" is the more common known name of the great Hannah Szenesh poem, "A Walk to Caesarea."  "I pray that these things never end..." It's a wonderful, haunting poem that has so much serenity to it.  The melody just gets at you like an old Yiddish song--it lingers in your mind for days.  It was an unofficial theme or anthem to our trip last weekend as a class to the North.