At the end of  Behaalotecha, there’s hope that God shares,

a reminder moving forward that He still cares.

It says God will remember His covenant of old,

and that a positive trajectory will unfold.

God says He’ll remember our forefathers and our land,

and that He will compassionately understand.

Our connection with Him will continue once more,

moving forward, we will make things better than before.

In Ki Tavo’s tochacha (rebuke), redemption is left out,

Why is that here in our parsha, it is spoken about?

Because it’s hard to be a guest, to stay,

after you have been pushed away.

After we’ve actively cut off our divine ties,

It’s challenging for God to see us through compassionate eyes.

But if there’s a piece of our heritage from which we don’t hide,

that part that we still have kept burning inside.

If we hold on to our ancestors even in a small way,

then God says to us that there will be a new day.

May we be blessed to remember this when we’re feeling low,

that we’re still holding on to our desire to grow and not let go.

God understands then, when we seem to have strayed,

that it’s only because we’re worn down, feeling frayed.

If we acknowledge the relationship and that we want more,

then there is a bright and positive future in store.

God will bless us, even when things are feeling dark,

to find and fan our inner inner spark.

And that’s when God will say that our future can be bright,

May it be very soon that we see the redemptive light.

Rabbi Neil Fleischmann, an ordained rabbi from RIETS, has taught Torah for over 30 years, primarily at The Frisch School, where he coached the award-winning poetry team. As an integral part of the Yeshiva Poetry Society, Fleischmann is a passionate advocate for the arts within the Torah world. He was named New York’s funniest rabbi and has performed stand up comedy, as well as presenting as scholar in residence, across the city and country. His literary work includes the haiku collection, “In The Field,” and he has contributed close to 20 poems to the “Stories of Our Lives” anthologies, parts 1 and 2. Currently, Fleischmann is working on a book of parsha poems that combines meaningful content with whimsical formatting. You can reach him at [email protected].