As we approach the holiday of Passover we think a great deal about freedom. Passover is our story of redemption; one of the highest high points in the Hebrew's uneven trek toward freedom. God is present in this story. God is front and center and with an outstretched arm, moves God's nation toward freedom.
Over the centuries there have been many other national stories of freedom. Each is compelling and not all result in success. Tragically, Ukraine is now fighting for its freedom. In this story God is not extending an outstretched arm toward freedom. One never knows what the designs of The Creator are, but it is for certain that people can achieve heroic heights despite the lack of miraculous events.
And so, this poem about Ukraine.
When There Are No Miracles
When there are no miracles.
When the sea does not split
to let people go.
When manna does not fall from the sky,
but bombs do.
When there is no Pharaoh,
but there is a Putin.
When blood on the lintel is not enough
to save the first born
or the second or third born.
When plagues rain down
and the rivers run with blood.
There is no Moses,
but there is a Zelensky
and there are the miracles that people create
with their human hearts,
with their small and
vulnerable
human bodies.
There are miracles
that people create
when they search
deep
inside
themselves
and find
the courage
to rise on paths
that cut diamond hard edges
into history.
Risk
Chance
Redemption
Without miracles
Without a malach*
Without a seraph**,
but with
Courage
Tenacity
A belief
so complete
one is willing to
sacrifice himself
for
Freedom
In the absence of miracles
One step forward
and then another.
People become the miracles.
*malach-an angel
** seraph- an angel
וַיּוֹצִאֵנוּ ה' מִמִּצְרַיִם. לֹא עַל־יְדֵי מַלְאָךְ, וְלֹא עַל־יְדֵי שָׂרָף, וְלֹא עַל־יְדֵי שָׁלִיחַ, אֶלָּא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בִּכְבוֹדוֹ וּבְעַצְמוֹ. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְעָבַרְתִּי בְאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם בַּלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה, וְהִכֵּיתִי כָּל־בְּכוֹר בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם מֵאָדָם וְעַד בְּהֵמָה, וּבְכָל אֱלֹהֵי מִצְרַיִם אֶעֱשֶׂה שְׁפָטִים. אֲנִי ה'. "And the Lord brought us forth out of Egypt." Not by the hands of an angel, nor by the hands of a seraph, nor by the hands of a messenger; but it was the Holy One, blessed be He, himself, and himself alone, as it is said (Ex. xii. 12), "For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment; I am the Lord."
Pesach Hagadah, Magid, 1897