This Year

 

Okay God,

This year, did we really need to count the Omer?

Between the election numbers

The corruption and graft

The kidnappings

The tax cuts for the rich

The funding cuts for the poor

The children dead from measles,

The free speeches suppressed.

Haven’t we had enough counting?

 

This year, do we really need to remember the Covenant?

It’s always been here

Even when we couldn’t see it.

Though it is up to us to look:

If we take care of the earth

It will take care of us, yes?

We know what our obligations are,

The good thing is always right there for us to do.

So how many of us tried?

 

This year, do we really need to “receive” the Torah?

Haven’t we been passive for too long?

Don’t we already know what to learn?

Yeah, it feels like it is enough just to survive, 

But shouldn’t we be doing more?

Can we heal our inner spirit

Without healing the suffering of the world?

Do we really want to go back to normal,

Didn’t normal suck?

 

This year let’s make some Torah.

C’mon, let’s do something new.

This year, change the world.

Amen

A Shavuot Blessing For Essential and Sacred Workers

 

Bless those who got us to Sinai:

The ones who fed us,

The ones who kept us safe,

The ones who healed us,

The ones who sustained us,

The ones who listened to us,

The ones who prayed with us,

The ones who did the dirty work for us

And the ones who put themselves in danger, 

whether out of choice or out of necessity.

 

Bless these workers:

May they be paid fairly for their labor,

May they find pleasure in their work,

May they be appreciated for their sacrifices,

May they have room to recover themselves,

May they not be sickened or injured in their jobs,

May they organize themselves successfully in unions,

May they have time for spiritual exploration

And may they all get enough of what they need, 

whatever that looks like for each one of them.  

Amen.