AND YET AGAIN

   Dear Lord, 

This is not the first time I have written You a letter, nor do I expect it will be the last. Certainly, though, if You would answer this letter the way I would hope You would, maybe we wouldn't have to do this again. Maybe the response would bring forth a letter of gratitude, Thank You for hearing and responding positively not only to my prayer, but more important, to the prayers of so many around this world.

In the third section of the Old Testament in Genesis, known as Lech Lecha, Abraham is asked to put all of his faith in this invisible G-d and leave his land, where he was born, his father's home and go to a strange land that this mysterious, rather imperative sort, would lead him, show him, and then, well, we all know the rest.  

Through many volumes the growth of a nation descended from Abraham and Sarah was detailed. The promises made and the promises broken. The wrath of the Lord when His people strayed, their ingratitude, the return of a father's love when He extended His forgiveness for the umpteenth time. And then again, despite all the threats and the rewards hanging in the balance His people strayed yet again. Time and again the imperfections within the nation, perhaps a forgetfulness that all the good that had been gifted to them came not only from their hard work, but due to the blessings from the Lord, turned them in the wrong direction. 

The cycle was a repetitive one, with their G-d always giving them yet another chance and time and again they strayed and lost this wonderful gift, their homeland, this Promised Land, a land of milk and honey. The cycle completed itself with the ever returning of this nation to its ancestral soil, no matter where they had been taken or their lives had led them. Always they remembered and always there were those who remained in this land. 

Always present in their prayers, in their hearts and in their souls. Always longing to return no matter where they were while living in the lands of the Diaspora. Always the longing to return. Always the yearnings for that home as expressed in their prayers, in the direction in which they prayed. And   always with the promise to themselves - Next year in Jerusalem". 

Much was asked of them by their G-d, held to a stricter, higher standard than other nations. They were presented with the Torah, their guiding documents of their history, the rules and laws by which to govern their lives. Always to remember. that with that gift of the Torah came a responsibility to share the wisdom with others of this world, keep the directive, the imperative, laid upon them: Tikun Olam, to leave the world even a bit better for you having been there. 

This was a difficult task, for this nation was as all the rest of mankind. Imperfect, weak sometimes in their resistance to that which they should spurn. At times they forgot what is truly important. Not the wealth, not the comfort of oodles of 'stuff', but to live a life of goodness, to be an example to others. fulfill the laws given to them. To live the life that is the image of G-d.  In our straying, that which might have been excused to others, was not excused and thus the ever present cycle.  

However, over and above it all were those promises. At times, broken. At times not, but always eternal promises of the homeland, Eretz Yisroel, the land of Israel, our indigenous habitation. This nation once known as Israelites, now deemed the Jewish nation and Israeli of those living within the State of Israel, accepted the conditions, knew what they had to do and struggle they did to do so. The end result was our return to our homeland as an independent nation. 

However, this displeased many, for during the millennia, a vicious JewHatred had burgeoned exponentially, ever more vicious, ever more imbued with bloodlust. They decided to deny the land to its rightful people and cried out many and vicious falsehoods, denying the most prominent and permanent part of this nation - to return, to live in that land known as Zion, Tzion. We give our children that name. One cannot claim to be anti-Zionist yet not be known as anti-Semitic They are one and the same thing and to think otherwise is to seek to hide your shame in your polluted soul. It is the same as ripping the heart out of a person and then demanding he breathe. Impossible.  

Throughout the millennia as we went through cycle after cycle we knew of its appearances and retreats.  We knew what was upon us to do. Some did so   and some did not. We waited through the millennia with an ever-present, never dying hope that the good would outweigh the bad and neglected as weighed on Your scale. Our dream, our return, and a hope that finally, one day, eventually, we would have reached the end of the cycles, and the end would be positive. 

 What was most difficult and most cruel and unkind, Dear Lord, were the trials and torments, that you placed upon us. Was it not enough that we were not living in our native land? That we were dispersed throughout the world? That we had to struggle hard in every country, in every nation, to be safe.  We know we need to do our job given to us by You. Live the law, better the world. Do right and forever remember, "I am your G-d, eternal and only.

We accept. We know that You are our eternal G-d, our eternal father, our eternal king and master. So why not give us more of the softer side of You, the Father whose love for His children never dies, no matter how bad, how far His children have strayed. We have admitted our transgressions, prayed, fasted, so now, Lord, where and when will we see the fulfillment of Your part? When will see that?      

We remind You of Your trait as a G-d of Mercy - we need to feel that mercy, sense its warmth and love upon us. 

This letter comes not only from me, but from all of Your children. Hear us. Love us. Have patience with us. And remember this question asked of You, still awaiting an answer. Asked by Abraham, Moses, and Jeremiah the Prophet.   

Would You punish the good because there is evil living amongst them? Why do the good suffer and the evil seem to live a better life? Lord, they. we, are only human. We can only stand so much. We are the way You made us, complete with flaws.  Remember You are Av Harachamim, the Father of Mercy. Look down upon Your people. We are tired, so tired, as hatred of us, denial of us, spreads throughout the entire world. Have we indeed done so much to anger you to that degree?  Throughout the centuries of crusades and pogroms waged against us, the expulsions, the Holocaust, the constant wars as our enemies besiege and beset us - is that not enough? Do you really need more, Dear Lord? Answer with what we need to hear, with the encouragement we crave, to be able to go on, to spread Your name, Your goodness, Your wisdom, Your laws, Your kindness and love. 

Now. 

Yesterday most of us knew this. 

In our todays most of us continue on that same road of belief. 

In our tomorrows, Elokaynu, our Lord and G-d, be there for us as we have been there for You.

Thank You, 

Ever Your People, ever Your Believers, ever   awaiting the glow of Your Forgiveness and Love  to shine upon us, in our eternal Homeland.