The Age of Innocence

I am running through the tall grass on the highway meridian.  I think- I am the first and only person to walk here. On the ground I have stepped on, it is virgin territory. It is pure. I am pure. I am uncluttered.  I smile; I let the sun warm my skin. I like that very much.  I am real. I am free. I am unique.  I am growth personified.  Like a blade of grass in a field of grass. I am singular and I am part of a greater whole. 

I love

I love everyone and everything.

I talk with G-d and G-d hears me.  I am not alone…ever. I can ….do, be, do, be

I trust.

I trust myself. I know myself, I know my thoughts

I have thoughts.  My thoughts are unique to me.

I trust others…implicitly.  I am not afraid of others

I trust others and I trust G-d.

I am not afraid

I am not afraid of what others think of me

I don’t second guess me or others

I smile freely

I love what I am doing in the moment and I love everyone

I love G-d

If someone is upset

If someone is upset at me

It has nothing to do with me

I would not upset anyone…intentionally

If I am wrong, I’m sorry

And if I am not..it will pass

I am in a wood near a stream, looking for salamanders. I am an explorer.  My eyes and ears are my tools. I am in the shade of the green canopy by the little stream watching the water rush around the rocks. I love the way the rocks look so clean in the clear rushing water. I collect the rocks. This one is special. As I am special.

I sing..all the time,

By Myself

With my friends

With G-d

I dance too

I am happy

I try my best in everything

And if I fail, I just fail a little because I tried my best and therefore I succeeded in what I set out to do…my best

I try again.

I consider others…

Can I help

How can I help

What do they need

Can I get it, do it, be it?

I climbed up the ditch with my homemade bow and arrow, searching for wild boar.  There are no wild boar. But that doesn't matter.  I am still searching, hunting...wild boar

TRUTH

Do I know the truth

Do I know the truth about me?

Do I see myself?

Can I assess myself with honesty

Do I strive for TRUTH

Do I strive for Truth and Kindness

This is the Age of Innocence

Growing Up in the Bronx


My childhood friend Harriet Schwartz,, lived in the Sedgwick Projects in the same building as I did.  She encapsulates so well many of my Bronx experiences growing up there.  It was special.  Every Bronxite knows that and as she mentions- not in hindsight.  Mamish! It was special.

http://hjswritergalsworld.weebly.com/the-forum.html#/20110605/growing-up-bronx-632256/

Dov Ber -Go Viter!
We too have been charged...

For Chanukah my kids gave me the book, Out of the Depths:The Story of a Child of Buchenwald who Returned Home At Last. By Chief Rabbi Israel Meir Lau.  The last paragraph of the book repeated the theme that appeared throughout-the continuation of the Jewish people.

I came to Lakewood for the pidyon haben of my grandson, Dov Ber. (See picture) He was redeemed as commanded in the Torah.

Upon completing the Memoirs of Chief Rabbi Israel Meir Lau who emerged like a phoenix from the ashes of Buchenwald concentration camp, it seemed so right to be here with my children, and newest grandchild and my son in law's extended family (only) 40 of which were present at the seudah, the meal which accompanies the redemption ceremony; a real-life-time tangible continuation of the budding remnant of our people. As Rabbi Lau points out (quoting Mayor Ed Koch) that even those who did not experience the Holocaust were redeemed because had we been in Europe during the war, we would surely experience / witness its horrors. and even if we would have survived our psyches would surely have been wounded and filled with images too strong too forget. And although Rabbi Lau was only 8 years old upon liberation from Buchenwald, he and his brother Naphtali were charged by their father with the continuation of the family (Rabbinic) line.

I too feel so charged, and thank G-d have been blessed with 4 grandchildren  ...so far. As Rabbi Lau also points out while quoting an army offcer - Jews can only move forward. Go Viter..!

Amein!