“Don’t Ignore my Hope and my Prayer”

Five images today. 10,000 images in five years. Each one is a prayer. Click on any of the featured images to view the gallery.

Dear Readers, Shalom, Salaam, Peace,

this is Esther writing. The artist Daniel and me had started editing this post, but never published it. I thought now is a good time.

December 2015:

If you could see our house, imagine it with faces looking at you from most every surface, and a lot more stacked and organized in various locations. Every day new souls show up. Usually, the new ones stay out for a while and we get to meet them more.

Today I had a phone conversation with my brother (a photo journalist) who had made a new friend from Syria on his travels. After a long and difficult journey lasting many years she made it to Europe and is currently staying with our family there.

She had recently found out that her daughter, still just a teenager, had fled Syria and gotten on one of those rubber boats in Turkey heading towards Greece, trying to reach her mother. I can tell that she is beyond worried, so much can happen.

Throughout the day I sent prayers in this young girls direction, and all the other young girls and boys who are tracking away from violence, hatred and oppression, with the hopes and dreams of a better life.

As I head up to bed I notice this young girl ( Soul Portrait 1,339), her paint still drying, and looking at me with that knowing smile. She too had made that journey, at a different time, the other way around, away from Europe and hoping to reach Israel.

At that time, only few European countries accepted Jewish Refugees and most were turned back and perished at the hands of Germany. This young/old Jewish soul tells me:

“I will help you pray for her. I know what it’s like.“

January 2017:

The young Syrian girl safely reached her mother and today they are both well.

As I was reading the draft above I thought I would like to see this painting again, and so I went and magically, among the thousands of others, found this Soul Portrait (1,339) right away, and placed her on the piano like we used to do.

Her eyes sparkle, such fire and light. There is a great strength despite the fact that she is so skinny. I don’t know her, and yet I do. I see a deep knowing, and joy. I smile, but then burst into tears.

My youngest is in the room and he comes over, alarmed. I tell him it’s alright, I am just listening. Should he turn off the music? No, it doesn’t bother me. I am not listening to the music. Wondering, how could I ever put these emotions into words? All that I see in her eyes? What is she thinking as she walks, travels, for miles and miles, hungry, and yet strengthened inside, hoping to reach Israel. A place to call home. Maybe there is a song in her heart, her mind.

My Youngest gives me a look of stunned surprise: Listen!

The Hebrew music that was playing has suddenly turned to English. As we listen to the music, we are both crying and laughing at the same time.

“Through the pain and through the pleasure,

through the peaceful and the wild

our tiny fragile treasure

God protect that child.

Through the fire crisply burning,

through the water chrystal clear

to the soldier who’s returning

to his home so dear.

Through the good times

through the bad  times

Oh God it’s you that I need

through the sting and all through the honey

through the bitter

through the sweet

don’t destroy my growing, my yearning

don’t ignore my hope and my prayer

bring me back and I’ll be returning

 to the land that is good”

(As heard on Paul Zim’s collection of songs)

The young Jewish girl reached Israel, only to turn around again to try to free more of her fellow people. She was captured, tortured and killed. She kept singing and refused to be blindfolded. When she was shot she looked her executioners straight in the eyes.

The young Syrian girl is studying hard, learning to adapt to a new language and culture, hoping to find her place in the world. She is a joyous, sweet person, still young at heart despite the hardships.

At least in our own family many different cultures are coming together and enjoy learning about each other.

All the Young of this world are our fragile treasures and it is up to us to help protect them, and learn from them. I pray for all of us to find our way home and be treasured for who and where we are, at any moment in time and space.

With Love,

Esther

(paintings from December 29, 2015, blog post from Dec.2015 and Jan. 30, 2017)

“He who makes peace in His heavens, may He make peace for us and for all Israel.”

“To Him belongs the Unseen in the heavens and in the earth.”

8,657 Soul Portraits to go!

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