Dream of Blue

Leann Shamash
Jun 18
3 min read

#blue #shlach #shelach #seferbamidbar #bookofnumbers #parshatshelach #parshatshlach #parshathashavua #wordshavewings #parshacommentary #contemporaryparshapoetry

What can we say about a Parsha like this? Parshat Sh'lach is an inflection point Parsha. Over these months we have read of other pivotal moments including, but not limted to the Creation story, Avraham's communication with God, Joseph's descent to Egypt, Moses' encounter with Gd, crossing the Red Sea, receiving the Ten Commandments, the episode of the golden calf and now, the episode of the scouts sent to share information on The Land.

After the skeptical and frightened accounts of ten of the twelve scouts, it seems that Gd has reached a breaking point and from this mistake there is no return; this generation is not the people who are fit for the land. Following an impassioned plea by Moshe, Gd decides that the people will not be killed, but will slowly die of natural causes in the desert and it will be their children who will go into the land, a generation unsullied by slavery.

As I learned this week*, even following the tragic episode of the scouts, the final mitzvot listed at the conclusion Parshat Sh'lach are mitzvot which will take place in The Land, so as the readers, we can see that hope remains and one day the dream will be achieved.

The Parsha concludes with the mitzvah of Tzitzit, the fringes one wears in order to remember God, which includes a thread of bright blue, or techeylet. when looking at the tcheylet, it is an invitation to remember God, but it is also a chance to imagine the blue sky or the blue of the sea or even the jeweled throne of God. Isn't it interesting to think that the mitzvah of tzitzit opens our eyes to imagine and dream of the good. Throughout our history, even through the darkest times, the techeylet of the tzitzit have been there to help us to dream and keep hope alive.

Shabbat Shalom,

Leann

Dream of Blue

At times when grays overwhelm

and hope is all but fading.

You are squeezed between

the darkness and light

in a spot where there is no room to move.

Dream of the blue of the cornflower,

the blue of the screaming jay,

When the dark shadows of clouds block your vision

and it seems

there are endless hands eager to block the nourishing light of the sun,

remember the brilliant blue orb of the earth as seen from high

suspended high above the problems of this earth.

Dream of Blue.

When you are alone in a corner,

swallowed by shadows

that lengthen and shade

Dream of Blue.

Recall the blue of a babies' eyes,

the radiance of a peacock’s finery.

When you feel you cannot hold on any longer

imagine the power of the wild blue of the foaming surf,

a day of sand, sun and azure skies,

Dream of Blue

When the world sees you as a mere speck,

someone to be kicked and disparaged.

When truth is lost somewhere in the text.

Dream of Blue

The blue of a flag.

The blue of a flame that is never extinguished.

The blue of hope.

Blue

If you will it, it is no dream

Remember,

Above the grayest clouds the sky is a brilliant blue

and hope is never extinguished.

Dream of Blue

Dream of Blue

Dream of Blue

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