A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do. He may as well concern himself with his shadow on the wall. Speak what you think now in hard words and tomorrow speak what tomorrow thinks in hard words again, though it contract everything you said today. "Ah, so you shall be sure to be misunderstood." - Is it so bad then to be misunderstood?

A great teacher once told his students to fill a sieve with water. A few laughed and said, "It cannot be done," and left. A few students poured water into the sieve but got discouraged when it immediately drained out. One student sat quietly for a long time looking at the sieve. She then got up and threw the sieve into the ocean. "Now it's full of water," she exclaimed. The teacher smiled at his masterful student. "We achieve success in life," he commented, "not when we try to fill ourselves up but when we see ourselves as fullness to be shared with others."

The silence is all there is. It is the alpha and the omega, it is God's brooding over the face of the waters; it is the blinded note of the ten thousand things, the whine of wings. You take a step in the right direction to pray to this silence, and even to address the prayer to "World." Distinctions blur. Quit your tents. Pray without ceasing.

Introduction to The Counting of The Omer -

49 days, seven weeks between Passover and Shavuot

On Thursday I received a call from Ilan. I hadn’t heard from him all week. That is not unusual – when he is in training he often doesn’t call until Thursday or Friday.  His voice was strong, sure and yet I could tell that he was trying to be measured in his speech. Adrenaline was making his breath shallow.

“Hi Mom.”

“Hey Ilan how are you?”

“I’m fine. Can you call me back on this phone?”

“Where is your phone?”

“I left it on the base.”

“Oh. Where are you?”

“A kibbutz.”

“Awesome. Are you out for the weekend? “