This past week, my wife and I went north to spend a few days in the presence of Mt. Shasta. While there, I thought often of a recent poem by my treasured friend and long-time colleague, Rabbi Steve Cohen. To me, these words are timeless — like the mountain. Given the state of our world, they are also timely. I’m sharing the poem with you this week.
“Old Truth”
Today we need Old Truth.
We thought it had died so we buried it.
The fact is that we tore down the Old Truth
because it seemed to be a rotten timber.
It had been twisted into a pillar of slavery and oppression
so we tore it down and buried it.
But today we need it again,
remembered and restored to its original sacred power.
When Old Truth goes silent, the Pharoah speaks:
“It is mine, this Nile; I made it for myself.”
Pharoah throws every boy that is born into the river
and says: “Who is God, that I should heed His voice?”
Who, indeed, is God?
How might He deliver us from this Pharoah,
this crocodile king, lying in the river,
certain that he is god, and that he will rule forever?
We need the Old Truth
Not some artificial intelligence, but our Old Human Intelligence.
We still remember that Voice, speaking to us from out of the fire:
“I am the Lord your God Who brought you forth from the Land of Egypt”
“The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the earth””
“Do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.”
We used to stand in class and pledge to be
“One nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all.”
Many times in history, human hands have
“hurled Truth to the ground”
But always, with time, with courage and with help from God,
“Truth springs up from the earth,
and justice gazes down from Heaven.”
You can explore more of Rabbi Steve’s writings at https://www.rabbistevecohen.com.
(sources: Ezekiel 29:9; Exodus 5:2; Exodus 20:2; Genesis 3:10; Micah 6:8; Daniel 8:12; Psalms 85:11)
Steve Jacobsen, Ed.D 