I return from another moment of truth
Discovering another place to
Push forward or fall back.
I remember my ongoing struggle
With the Almighty.
You gave us wings to fly
And endless possibilities;
Most of all - and deepest
Knowing our unique right.
And yet with all our freedom,
We get swallowed up -
In the ground -
By our God-given
Desires.
I want what I want,
You give me everything I need
I want to sing -
You give me strength of speech
I want to take what is mine -
You give me free gifts.
I want this one for my own,
You show me mine is over there.
I long, I lack, I turn around,
And all You say is:
This is my will.
When will You let me love You my way?
Or show me how to love Yours?
The one you send to teach me truth
She is so beautiful
He is so wise,
Give me a fixing in this month
A fixing for the eyes.
One day I will bridge
The chasm between
Your will and mine.
Your beloved chosen one
Will open up my heart.
And my arguments will turn from vain
To yearning for Your sake.
Rav Raz Hartman
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Rav Raz Hartman, born to Israeli parents, grew up in Southern California. He was attending U.S.C., majoring in Music Peformance, when he met Rav Natan Greenberg. That meeting eventually result in Raz's coming to the Bat Ayin Yeshiva, where he studied for six years and was given Semichah in 2003. He is married to Leah, and they live, with their three children, in Nachla'ot, Jerusalem. Raz serves as Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Simchat Shlomo, and founder of the v'Ani Tefillah minyan. He has produced several albums of Jewish music. |