Two weeks have somehow passed since Israel was attacked and invaded. Jews around the world are now targets, as well. Here in Israel, shock and fear, sorrow and tears, have been joined with resolve and action. Our people are strong and resilliant. And Jerusalem still stands.

Jerusalem Still Stands
Two weeks
Have passed
Since rockets
Split the skies,
And invaders
Split our hearts.
Jerusalem
Still stands.

Two weeks
Have passed
Since our sons
Were abducted,
And our daughters
Taken hostage.
Jerusalem
Still stands.

Two weeks
Have passed
Since the blood
Of our people,
And tears of our nation,
Soaked the earth.
Jerusalem
Still stands.

Two weeks
Have passed
And our hearts still ache
And our souls still cry
While we storm
The gates of heaven
With our prayers.
Prayers for the captives.
Prayers for the murdered.
Prayers for the fallen.
Prayers for our soldiers.
Prayers for our people.
And Israel
Still stands.

עם ישראל חי
The people of Israel live.
The nation of Israel lives.
Jerusalem
Still stands.

© 2023 Alden Solovy and ToBendLight

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Postscript: This is one of nearly 10 pieces I’ve written since the invasion and war, including one song, “Nothing Left but Tears.”

Please check out These Words: Poetic Midrash on the Language of Torah and my other CCAR Press volumes: This Grateful Heart, This Joyous Soul, and This Precious Life, which can also be purchased as the Grateful/Joyous/Precious trilogy. For reprint permissions and usage guidelines, see “Share the Prayer!” To receive my latest prayers via email, please subscribe (on the home page). You can also connect on Facebook and Twitter. For a taste of my teaching, see my ELItalk video, “Falling in Love with Prayer.”

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Photo Source: Barry Leff, 20October23

Tags: hope, IDF, Jerusalem, peace, Resilience, War in Gaza