This fall, a group of Jewish friends from across college campuses, geographies, and communities came together to create a fresh High Holidays reader for 5781 called “Our Still Small Voice” or Kol Damama Daka. This reader, in the form of a free-floating PDF, offers reflections, short stories, poetry, and teachings of compassion in a particularly difficult High Holiday season. If you like independently published collections, Jewish zines, or are looking for more ways to connect with awe-filled themes for the month of Tishrei, you can read and download “Our Still Small Voice” here.
In this poem from “Our Still, Small Voice”, drawing on themes from the holiday service of hallel, Lavi Teitelbaum writes a new interpretation of Psalm 114, bringing ancient meanings into a fresh focus just in time for Sukkot.
Psalm 114 – An Interpretive Translation
When Israel walked away from Egypt—at that moment when Jacob’s family left a foreign culture—Judah became the holy priest of the World. For real.
A-few-confused-humans-in-the-desert-Israel suddenly were the dominion of the One who designed the Andromeda galaxy.
The Reed Sea, which had been flowing along peacefully a few miles away, saw this and was startled. It got as far as it could out of the way of that paradoxical people. A few milliseconds later, the Jordan river felt the same shockwave. It knew the desert wanderers wouldn’t pass for another few years, but its waters tensed up just thinking about it.
The mountains, on the other hand, they weren’t afraid. They got up and did a little dance, like muscular rams hopping from rock to rock. The hills joined in. Their dance was like a whole flock of sheep.
But wait! Hey sea! I understand why you’re running away.
Hey Jordan! I totally get why you’re flinching.
But you mountains! How can you dance like that?
Hills! How dare you act like prancing sheep!
Standing in front of the Master, all you land formations should be shaking in your foothills!
Don’t think your bedrock will save you. This God of Jacob you’re looking at? This God designed the Andromeda galaxy. This God can turn boulders into a puddle. This God can turn a million-year-old flintstone into a flowing stream of water.
