Shabbat B’Midbar

Enter into the wilderness, the One calls.

Leave your routines, your habitual responses,

Go forth from expectations and conditioned behavior.

Yes, it is frightening. Yes, it feels daunting.

But I will meet you there, the Mystery says.

The word for wilderness, midbar

Is the same word for speak, midaber.

Out in the unknown,

In the wildness of mind and spirit,

God speaks.

It is up to us to go forth and listen.

May the words of our mouths,

The meditations of our hearts,

And the work of our hands

Bring blessing.

Shabbat shalom.

—Rabbi Yael Levy