A poem by Yehudah Amichai:

The voice of the closed drawer – the voice of God

The voice of the open drawer – the voice of Love

But sometimes they are also the opposite.

Footsteps that draw near – the voice of love

Footsteps that fade away – the voice of God

That he fled the land, suddenly, a temporary victory.

A book open left open on the table, and in the hand, eyeglasses – God.

A book closed and a light left on – love.

A key spinning in the door without a voice – God

A key hesitating – love and hope.

But sometimes they are also the opposite.

A sacrifice of pleasant odors to God,

A sacrifice of the rest of the senses to love:

A sacrifice from feeling to caressing, a sacrifice of seeing and hearing

A sacrifice of taste.

But sometimes they are also the opposite.

50 years Valley Beth Shalom, has collected poetry, stories and meditations to celebrate the High Holidays. This year I’m posting daily some of the best from the archive.