A Poem by Benjamin Z. Rudski
鈥淚f I am not for myself, who is for me? 状讗执诐 讗值讬谉 讗植谞执讬 诇执讬, 诪执讬 诇执讬.
But if I am for my own self [only], what am I? 讜旨讻职砖侄讈讗植谞执讬 诇职注址爪职诪执讬, 诪指讛 讗植谞执讬.
And if not now, when?鈥� 讜职讗执诐 诇止讗 注址讻职砖指讈讬讜, 讗值讬诪指转指讬:状
鈥揈thics of the Fathers (Pirkei Avot) 1:14
From Sefaria (). English translation by Dr. Joshua Kulp; additions by original translator.
听
The winter of our lives
Spent curled in a ball.
We live in a burrow,
Closed onto ourselves.
Navigating life
All on our own.
Waiting for the spring
To emerge.
听
We are the groundhogs.
Living onto ourselves.
Deep in our winter slumber.
Navigating life
Safely within our communities.
Waiting for the right moment
To emerge.
听
When is the moment
To go out and meet the Other?
Surely encounters
Should be in April or May.
The weather is nice,
The snow has melted.
The comfort of encounters
In the pleasant sun.
听
But alas, that is not to be!
The time to emerge
Is not May,
Nor April.
Not even March.
The time to emerge,
On Groundhog Day,
Is in the coldest month鈥�
February.
听
We await not the
Pleasant Warmth
Before we emerge.
We leave the safety
Of our burrows
Not in plenty,
Nor in warmth,
Nor during long days.
These encounters are urgent,
And cannot wait.
To connect, we must go out
In February.
听
Forget the comfort.
But emerge slowly
And carefully
We must.
Lest we get scared
By the shadows
And retreat back
Into our burrows,
Prolonging our winter
By six weeks longer
Or more鈥�
听
