A Bisl Torah – A Song of Lament

On Sunday, I spent the day at the baseball field, watching my sons enjoy their favorite sport. At my older son’s game, the opposing team used an application that called out each player’s name. And more entertaining, it played a specific song as that batter took their stance.

For one kid, “Take me out to the ballgame” blasted through the park. Another kid, “Fight Song.” And I couldn’t help but wonder which song we would choose…which song describes both who we are and what we want to convey at this particular moment?

There was a great show on television called, “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist.” Zoey’s superpower was looking past people’s blank facades and hearing their song. The song would reveal the person’s inner emotions, a true window, but only Zoey was privy to the lyrics.

We live in anguishing times. And we shake our heads, no words properly describing the torment. No words adequately expressing the outrage. Our anger.

Perhaps the events of the past week, the senseless murders have put you in a similar state of shock. How many more children need to die?

We must continue to speak out. We must continue to scream. We were not created to be complacent human beings. If your throat is dry, if you are choking back tears trying to explain how you are doing, how you are feeling…perhaps, a song’s lyrics will give way to the words you are meant to share.

In response to the destruction of Jerusalem, the prophet Jeremiah says, “Consider now! Call for the wailing women to come; send for the most skillful of them. Let them come quickly and wail over until our eyes overflow with tears and water streams from our eyelids.” Our tradition seemingly understands that grief should not be experienced alone and when faced with anguish, we might even need other lamenters to help us sing our song, to share our words that are locked within.

We are in pain. And we are angry. But we’re not alone. Let our songs join one by one…a river of tears singing, crying, protesting and mourning together.

Shabbat Shalom