Chalutzim

from Traveler's Prayer


May it be Your will, Adonai, our God and the God of our ancestors, that You lead us toward peace, guide our footsteps toward peace, and make us reach our desired destination for life, gladness, and peace.



We were chalutzim.

Like most chalutzim
we took it a bit on the chin
so others could follow.

We blazed trails
hurdled unforeseen barriers
tested the mission as much as ourselves.
We learned more from failure
than we did from success
and it all defined success.

Only in the end
do we understand
the trail of danger
of ignored impediments
that lies in our wake.

Only after claiming victory
do we reflect on potential loss.
Only having been delivered
do we recognize the hand
of redemption in
being here at all.

We do not know how or why we did it.
It just had to be done.
It can’t be undone
nor will it be done
exactly this way
ever again.

There is good reason to pray three times a day.



The Birkhat HaGomel blessing is said after surviving danger.
Blessed are You, Adonai, our God, Ruler of the Universe, Who bestows good things on the unworthy, and has bestowed on me every goodness.