YIZKOR VISION In the crisp autumn air To light the way I went to say So many children Yizkor prayers today Being cleansed by their tears. One of those holy days In an instantaneous moment Four times a year Of infinite time We gather in community Something changed Mourners threaded by Reciting the “el maleh rachamim” [prayer for the soul of Memories of heart and mind the departed] A direct line In mournful dirge To loved ones Suddenly the windows opened In the world beyond. Souls ancient, eternal, transcendent Four times a year Seemed to stream into the space Ever since the Crusades Visible on everyone’s face When mega-death Each lost child Demanded memorialization Seemed to be comforted Jews have said Yizkor Through soul’s presence Remembrance Our prayers invited To honor, remember, elevate A heavenly congregation Souls of dead loved ones. Of wondrous, watching, wise beings It was fascinating Ancestral guides As I looked around the room Mommys, Daddys The synagogue was packed Bubbys, Zaydes, grandmas, grandpas, Death, after all is said and done from the other side Is a popular attraction Loved ones who walk with us Yet to my surprise Day and night Through the vision of my eyes Easing pain, loneliness and fright There was hardly And somehow in the afterglow An adult in the room Of so many souls Those saying Yizkor for parents Beckoned and present I saw on their faces As our praying moments Pain and love Softly came to an end Of little boys and girls Each face, man, woman and child Lost, lonely Looked a little older Crying for mommys and daddys A little wiser Those remembering dead brothers and sisters Deepened in the interior channels They too were pained children Of heart and soul A little brother Walking with dignity Reaching for his older sister’s hand The mourners path A little girl, standing next to her sister Of our ancient sages Both of them wondering why Deepened in knowing Their little brother died Death and loss And even that man Come what may Saying Yizkor for his dead wife Are truly and evermore For a brief moment Interwoven into Looked like a lost child The mystery and the enigma Unsure if someone Of being alive Will ever be there Of being human.
YIZKOR VISION In the crisp autumn air I went to say Yizkor prayers today One of those holy days Four times a year We gather in community Mourners threaded by Memories of heart and mind A direct line To loved ones In the world beyond. Four times a year Ever since the Crusades When mega-death Demanded memorialization Jews have said Yizkor Remembrance To honor, remember, elevate Souls of dead loved ones. It was fascinating As I looked around the room The synagogue was packed Death, after all is said and done Is a popular attraction Yet to my surprise Through the vision of my eyes There was hardly An adult in the room Those saying Yizkor for parents I saw on their faces Pain and love Of little boys and girls Lost, lonely Crying for mommys and daddys Those remembering dead brothers and sisters They too were pained children A little brother Reaching for his older sister’s hand A little girl, standing next to her sister Both of them wondering why Their little brother died And even that man Saying Yizkor for his dead wife For a brief moment Looked like a lost child Unsure if someone Will ever be there To light the way So many children Being cleansed by their tears. In an instantaneous moment Of infinite time Something changed Reciting the “el maleh rachamim” [prayer for the soul of the departed] In mournful dirge Suddenly the windows opened Souls ancient, eternal, transcendent Seemed to stream into the space Visible on everyone’s face Each lost child Seemed to be comforted Through soul’s presence Our prayers invited A heavenly congregation Of wondrous, watching, wise beings Ancestral guides Mommys, Daddys Bubbys, Zaydes, grandmas, grandpas, from the other side Loved ones who walk with us Day and night Easing pain, loneliness and fright And somehow in the afterglow Of so many souls Beckoned and present As our praying moments Softly came to an end Each face, man, woman and child Looked a little older A little wiser Deepened in the interior channels Of heart and soul Walking with dignity The mourners path Of our ancient sages Deepened in knowing Death and loss Come what may Are truly and evermore Interwoven into The mystery and the enigma Of being alive Of being human.
healing_service_pittsburgh.docx