I'm kissing the wall, my eyes are closed, in my head I hear voices. No I'm not crazy, these voices are talking to me. They're singing, they're singing the shabbat prayers. I find a crack in the great and mighty wall putting my lips up to it, and singing into it those familar sabbath prayers that have so many memories attached to them. I hear Joram singing loudly, not really aware of how loud he is, but knowing his prayers are reaching G-d loud and clear. I hear Kaleb, singing clearly where he knows it, and watching peoples mouths carfully where he doesn't. I hear Isabelle and Jenna next to me, the three of us singing and trying to not laugh as Jacob, Kaleb, Joram, Anastasia, Phil, or Jonah does something only they can get away with. I hear Marci singing next to me, and singing loudly when Jenna, Isabelle, or I does something we shouldn't and giving us that hard stare with the look of "really?" on her face. I hear Mom, singing next to me, making sure we're all doing what we're supposed to be doing and not misbehaving since it's one of the few things we do best, but also making sure, we're having fun, but not to much fun, only a nice healthy dose of it. I hear Dad, harmonizing along, being himself, and smiling at the community we have, and the family of ours that we love so much. I see everyone around the shabbat table, Mr. and Mrs. Fink, Uncle Phil, Aunt Alicia, Marci, Mom and Dad, all of us kids (There's really to many to name.) I sing to the wall, and pray hard for so many things. I pray for dad to get a better job, or at least one that he likes. I pray for all of these wars to end. I pray for people to use better judgement, and have a more open heart. I pray for the day when being a Jew isn't something you must worry about hiding, but something to be proud of. I pray for my family to join me here in Israel, this land that's so magical, it's my neverland, my heaven, my place where I am at home, my niche in this biome around me. I press my hand to the now warm surface of the wall, and feel that it's wet as well, I was crying and I did not know. I realize how much I miss my family, biological or unbiological, it does not matter to me. I say one last prayer, not one written in a book, nor pounded into my head, but one I felt needed to be said.
"Please G-d, let this world hear the music of life, and let it move them to a higher place."
Shabbat Shalom
