“This day is
The beginning of Your works” –
Zeh Ha’yom
Techilas ma’asecha –
The Birthday of creation.
Rosh HaShanah,
The first day of Tishrei,
The Head of the Year,
Falls on the last day of creation,
The sixth day, man’s premiere;
It is man who gives purpose
To this world and it’s beauty,
Given free choice,
He holds the key.
Merciful Father,
We are all standing here,
Survivors of a troubled year
Took for granted, Your kindness
In the years of plenty;
Now our hearts are broken,
Our hands raised to You, empty,
The future before us
Seems stark and vague;
We’ve lost many and much
In this terrible plague.
The shofar cries
“Father, Father!”
Please hear us, Hashem,
Please draw us close
To You again;
Avinu Malkeinu,
King above all, You
Orchestrate all that happens,
Direct all, near and far,
You give life, and take it,
Resurrect the dead;
Before Your throne, angels
Shiver in dread,
Your mercy towards Your children
Transends time and space,
But an indifferent King
Seems to’ve taken Your place!
We see awesome, objective
Judgment and ask
Don’t hide from us, Father,
Please take off that mask!
Our lives are in Your hands,
Your gifts, our every breath,
Let us pass ‘neath Your rod,
Mark Your sheep not, for death.
We thank You, HaKadosh Baruch Hu,
As history’s unfurled,
All can see that You’ve given us
The best of Your world,
Fortitude to keep going
Through days, dark and sunny,
The choicest land, Israel,
Holy Land of
Milk and Honey;
Thank You for the grace
To face
The tough things,
For the shelter
We’ve found
Beneath Your wings,
For the strength and courage
To walk life’s tightrope,
For Your great love, Father,
Is our pride and our hope.
By Sharon Marcus