Shaddai – Protector of Doorways

I made this little sketch thinking about the full moon and my Jewish relationship with it.

And I decided to actually make some art that existed beyond this little computer I carry around.

And added some details.
Here are the curved silver lines of water, the fluid currents of Torah, strongest when the moon is strongest.

The red streak above the lintel, made with my thumb, a line of protection. Red and gold, powerful – like fire and lightning.

Around the moon are little moon symbols. And even within the seeming starkness of black and white are small patterns, details, shapes.

El Shaddai. Guardian of Doors. Shomer Daltot Yisrael. Protector of Liminal Spaces.

Shekinah, guard us. Bless us and we will bless. May we be full like the moon. May we know the doors we enter. May we be safe in the in-between.

Amen v’amen.

Chazak! Chazak! A New book, A New Year

!חזק! חזק! ונתחזק
Chazak! Chazak! V’nit’chazak!
Be strong! Be strong! And we will be strengthened!

We just ended Bereshit and – at the end of a book of Torah – we traditionally say these words. It seems a potent and portentous time to say this phrase of joy, a powerful time to start Exodus as more and more people see the lack of freedom in our lives.

This week’s parasha – Shemot, the beginning of Exodus – is also the first time this word Chazak appears in Torah. And it doesn’t always have positive connotations. It’s the same word that “hardens” Pharaoh’s heart. It has a sense of strength through obstinance, a firm immovable tone.
The first time we see the word, Hashem is speaking to Moshe from that Burning Bush, in a place so holy and so plain, in the dry wilderness. And Hashem reminds that Pharaoh will only let the people go “from a stronger hand.”

We are now in the time, in the season, in the very hour of the beginning of Yetziat Mitzraim – Going out from Egypt.
We are all realizing this world and those in power are harming us, are using us against each other, are hoarding the world’s resources. And it will take firm, stubborn, strong hands to bring us out of this. We must be stronger. We must be firm. We must even be obstinate.
Not with each other. Not with our partners and neighbors and the others suffering under this. But with the powers that be, that act as gods on earth. Let us turn the might of our bodies – hands and heads and hearts – to overthrow the Pharaohs of today. And let us all go free, let us find freedom together, as a people.

Chazak! Chazak! Be strong my dear friends. We will be strengthened.

To 2021. And to humanity. I’m rooting for us.

Find an org doing good work. Volunteer. Make phone calls or emails. Call your local elected officials and tell them what’s wrong; the higher up they are – the more stubborn you should be. Create give bags for our homeless neighbors. Now is the time. No one is free unless we’re all free. Chazak!