Expressions of Peace: A Journey and Prayer through Jewish Texts
(A Contemporary Piyyut,[1] first recited on March 13, 2022[2])
Rabbi J.B. Sacks
Our tradition teaches: “The sword comes to the world
because of a delay of justice and through perversion of justice.”[3]
God cries out: “Oh, my suffering, my suffering! How I writhe!
Oh, the walls of my heart! For all the land has been ravaged.[4]
G!d insists: “Not by might, not by power, but by my spirit,”[5]
G!d promises: “And I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the land,
and will make them lie down safely.”[6]
So let us beat our swords into plowshares and our spear into pruning hooks.
May nation not lift sword against nation, and may we never again experience war.[7]
May the wolf live with the lamb and the leopard lie down with the goat.
May the lion eat straw like the ox and may an infant play near the cobra.[8]
May none harm nor destroy on all My holy mountain.
Rather, seek peace. Even more so, pursue it.[9]
“Be of the persecuted rather than the persecutor,”
for offensive wars are offensive to G!d.
The killing of innocents is wrong even in defense.[10]
When besieging a city, do not entirely surround it.
Leave a path of escape; let people flee for safety, for their lives.[11]
When King David asked “Why can I not build the Holy Temple?”
God answered: “You have spilled much blood in your many wars.”[12]
Rather, you shall place peace upon the land
Peace when lying down, and peace when rising up.[13]
Peace to those who live close,
and peace to those who are distant.”[14]
Great is peace, for it encompasses all blessings…
Great is peace, for even in times of war, peace must be sought.
Great is peace for when the Messianic era arrives, it will commence with peace,
Great is peace, for the only vessel that can contain G!d’s blessings is peace.[15]
Let us not succumb to apathy, cynicism, or defeatism.
For we need to do the work of righteousness.
Let us fulfill our obligation to be shutafo shel ha-Kadosh Barukh Hu b’ma’asei b’reishit, partners with G!d in the creation of a more perfect world..[16]
Let loving-kindness and truth meet together,
then righteousness and peace will kiss.[17]
“And the work of righteousness shall be peace;
And the effect of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever.”[18]
[1] A piyyut is a Jewish liturgical poem, usually designated for use in a service. Very often classical piyyutim (plural of piyyut) are built through extensive use of allusions to many biblical passages (and, on occasion, classic rabbinic texts). The result is a new poem that has its own voice in promoting a specific theme in a new way but which is nonetheless grounded in our tradition. This pastiche tries to emulate the classic piyyut in style, motivation, and usage. It is meant to be read as a responsive reading, whether by two individuals, a person and the gathered community, or by each half of the community (each led by a reader).
[2] The prayer was read responsively by Ken Hailern, spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Shalom in Bermuda Dunes, and Rabbi Steven Rosenberg of Temple Isaiah in Palm Springs, at the recent Jewish Community Gathering for Ukraine on March 13, 2022 at Temple Sinai in Palm Desert.
[3] Pirkei Avot 5:8 and Avot d’Rabbi Natan 38:3.
[4] Jeremiah 4:19-20.
[5] Zechariah 4:6.
[6] Hosea 2:20.
[7] Isaiah 2:4.
[8] Isaiah 11:6, 8.
[9] Isaiah 11:9, Psalms 34:15.
[10] BT Baba Kama 93a. On wars, see Rashdal, the Hazon Ish, and Rabbi Judah Loew.
[11] Based on Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, Hilchot M’lachim 6:7.
[12] I Chronicles 22:8.
[13] Lev. 26:6 and Deut 6:7.
[14] Isa. 57:19.
[15] “Great is peace” based on Deuteronomy Rabbah 5:15.
[16] From the Columbus Platform, 1947.
[17] Psalm 85:11.
[18] Isaiah 32:17.