Why Are We Here

Some of us are here because we are searching for a way to be fully human.
Some of us are here to sit quietly and reflect.
Some of us are here to feel the rhythm of life flowing in our veins.
Some of us are here to dance.
Some of us are here to sing.
Some of us are here to study Torah.
Some of us are here to study ourselves.
Some of us are here to become awakened.
Some of us are here to peacefully dream.
Some of us are here to listen.
Some of us are here to breathe deeply.
Some of us are here to argue.
Some of us are here to say Amen.
Some of us are here to laugh.
Some of us are here to cry.
Some of us are here because we have said no to despair.
Some of us are here because we are filled with passion.
Some of us are here today because we still stand at Sinai and feel the warm breath of the still small voice emerging from the mist.
 
All of us are here to celebrate the passing of time.
All of us are here to examine our lives.
All of us are here to become fully alive.  

And you who achieve devekut — the cleaving, the one-ness, the repair of the breach, the spanning of the chasm, the bridging of the gap with Yah —
all of you are alive today.
 
Ve-Atem ha Devakim ba-Ya Eloheychem Hayyim Kool-chem HaYom.

 
— Reb Moshe Waldoks, from the TBZ High Holiday Makhzor