“We’ve had no pride event,” she said.
And she was right. And she was not.
For there was challah on the table,
Swirling chocolate and orange,
And paper plates displaying rainbows
Declaring loudly LOVE IS LOVE.
Leah’s thoughtful tableware,
Her plants spread round the room,
Her touch upon the bima,
Her fresh take on every tune,
Her long and loving sermon
And tears upon our cheeks: LOVE IS LOVE.
She said cultivate the garden;
She said bring your divine gifts;
She said everyone is different,
And we love each difference.
Take time to bring the water;
Take time to let in sun: LOVE IS LOVE.
Like our ancestral matriarch,
She brought forth life and made her mark.
She took time to listen and,
Even more, the time to talk.
She valued her opinions and
Treasured our debates: LOVE IS LOVE.
Kathy’s challah so artistic,
Eileen’s cookies gluten free,
Harold’s tech skills so supportive,
Zoe’s music heavenly…
LOVE IS LOVE.
Larry’s lyrics made us giggle,
Ann’s voice carried us along,
Cindi’s warm words made us tearful,
Mindy spoke of time flown by…
LOVE IS LOVE.
Arlene smiled through her reading,
Wrapped Leah warmly in a hug;
Leah sported Lisa’s silk print scarf.
(Might I give her scarves a plug?)
LOVE IS LOVE.
With Emily, religious school is
Standing on its feet.
With Sam the lights are brighter;
Elyse’s vocals are elite.
LOVE IS LOVE.
Tony tends the garden;
Deb handles all our stress;
Rachel crunches out the numbers;
John balances the books.
LOVE IS LOVE.
Lori held the pulpit,
Kim brought the mystery,
Allison took careful notes,
Joel brought un peu d'esprit.
LOVE IS LOVE.
Jeri plans our social action,
Don reads the finer print,
Ed plans out every ritual,
And Marty brings receipts.
LOVE IS LOVE.
Gab decorates the premises,
Yan rocks at pickleball,
Barry helped us learn the rulebook,
Jodi strummed us through it all.
LOVE IS LOVE.
And that is just a tiny taste
Of what we all bring to the table
In our temple full of rainbow plates
Where love is our main staple.
LOVE IS LOVE.
In our proud Mitzvah Garden,
We are plants of every size,
Bearing fruit and needing water,
Welcoming each soul inside.
LOVE IS LOVE.
Our rabbi, our once teacher,
Here today, tomorrow gone,
Cultivated all our talents,
Knew that there was room for all.
LOVE IS LOVE.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rebecca Abbate
