As the Moments Drone On: A Prayer for Protection
By Rabbi Paul Kipnes
Oseh Hashalom,
Maker of Peace,
May God be with us all now—our siblings in Israel, our people around the world, and all people who seek peace and strive to pursue it.
Is this what it was like
As our Israelite ancestors awaited
The arrival of the angel of death,
Did they too feel anxious and unsure,
Even though they too had been assured
That by marking the doorposts of their houses,
That they would survive
And thrive?Did they worry that Magein Avraham,
The shield of Abraham
Might fail to protect them?
Were they concerned that Ezrat Sarah,
The One who helped Sarah
Might be unable to help them through?
As the hours droned on
Before the exodus from Egypt,
Were our ancestors worried,
That the matzah they made
Might not hold off the hunger
of fearful night after fearful night?
That the darkness that descended
Might not dissipate,
Disallowing them to see
With confidence and clarity
The hope we hope is ahead?
Makor Hachayim,
Source of Life,
Who values life,
Spread your Sukkat Shalom,
Your shelter of peace,
Over us, over all Israel and
Over all the world.
And together we say,
Amen.