Sh’mini Atzeret
the ‘Eighth (day of)
Closure’
concluding
the sacred season
the days set apart
for repairing ourselves
our relationships
our communities
our world
and then
rejoicing
in nature’s bounty.

But this year
in Israel
Sh’mini Atzeret
Acheret
‘another’
kind of closure
on that holy-day
which was also
Shabbat
monstrous
desecration
as Hamas terrorists
hearts-sealed-shut
hands
wielding guns
knives
stopped hearts
in their hundreds
young people
dancing
in the desert
into dawn
mowed down
babies
children
families
as they woke
to a new day
tortured
murdered
mutilated
their homes set aflame.

Meanwhile
girls and women
raped
dozens of lives
wrenched away
into captivity.

And now
Shabbat peace
shattered
into bloody fragments
the cycle of violence
continues
with no end
in sight
action and
reaction
over and over
never over?

Hope
in the possibility of
another way
Justice
Peace
a future
for Israelis
for Palestinians
overwhelmed.

Our challenge
as Jews
Muslims
Christians
Israelis
Palestinians
Humans
to replenish
our resources
of courage
fortitude
compassion
so that
Hope
is never extinguished.
Elli Tikvah Sarah