Miryam's Space

Friday Elul 29, 5780

Jonah

On Yom kippur we will read of the reluctant prophet Jonah who ran away from G!d. But what exactly does it mean to run away from the source of life, light and compassion? In fact, under that gourd that withers after Nineveh is forgiven, Jonah asks for death, and cites the thirteen middot, as if to say to G!d “I knew you’d forgive them, you’ve ruined everything” 

I think that Jonah was always seeking death, because that’s what it means to run from the source of Life. The song below uses some notes of the shofar for the intervals. I thank my teachers this summer who inspired this song: Rabbi Ruth Gan Kagan, whose amazing class on the Thirteen middot inspired this assignment, and to Rabbi David Ingber, whose class on Tzodok haCohen, teaching about awareness, reminded us that Jonah went to sleep in the midst of the storm, and the deeper meaning for this sleep is this: When overwhelmed we close our eyes, R’ Ingber said, and the Zohar teaches Jonah’s story is an allegory, we are all travelers in life’s rickety boat. This opening lyric, with nine beats of the t’ruah, is a question from that study.

Here are lyrics from my new song: Jonah, which includes the the 13 attributes of G!d. Here is a vocal recording.

What does it mean to run away from,

the source of life and light?

How could you go to sleep Jonah

in the middle of this storm, tonight?

Even in the belly of the boat,

in the pit of despair, there can be light, Jonah,

if only you’ll awaken

Awaken your heart to compassion,

open, to feel again

Return to embrace your true essence, 

commit to healing the land

Choose life!

Oh the storm is raging Throw me overboard, And you’ll be safe,

I will find a haven, sleeping in the waves

Even in the belly of the fish, in the pit of despair

there can be love Jonah, a pathway to redemption

Chorus: Awaken your heart to compassion, open to love again

Return to your true essence, commit to healing the land, Choose life…

Don’t give up on us Jonah

There’s no part of us beyond reclaim

The Grace love and compassion,

are the magic of your main mission.

Somehow through the tears, we can find redemption

We might see the face of G!d…

Thirteen Attributes and Chorus

I aspire to be more awake in the coming year!