Admit, Repent, Refresh

His eyes are shut tightly,
His heart opens wide.
Tears stream down his cheeks,
Softly he does sigh.

The cry of the shofar echoes loudly in his ear,
begging and beseeching him to amend his ways.
The Ark is open - light glowing from within,
The King sits upon his throne today.

Dear G-d, I know that I have done wrong,
I pray that it can be undone.
I regret all my bad choices, every little thing,
I realize now that it was not worth the fun.

The Shofar cries out my pain loud and clear,
as I stand here in shul sobbing - the tears won't repress.
People stop and wonder - I care not one bit,
I admit I did wrong - now let me refresh.

- - -

All decked in white, we stand amongst each other,
Like angels we sing and we plea.
Scared, we await anxiously,
Father in heaven, what will you decree?

Prayers are whispered,
So softly you can hear the drop of a pin.
Yet, the thud of our hearts echo,
As we remember our sins.

Our tongues are so dry,
Our ankles seem to burn.
We made mistakes just like last year,
Oh, why won't we learn?

The day is finally over,
We have done all that we can do.
The gates are now closed.
Hashem, it is all up to You.

Looking Back Through 5774

I look back on this year in disbelief....
So much has occurred; many life choices have been made. It was definitely a year filled with "Firsts"!
To list just a few, one for each year of my life:
1) I started a business: Dovid's Documents.
2) I went to Israel for 3 MONTHS!
3) I made 48 new siblings - people who helped me in a way i can NEVER repay; people who helped me become who I truly am!
4) I wrote a 27 page booklet entitled: Thought. Dream. Reality.
5) I became involved with Hillel of Metro Detroit.
6) Became Secretary of the Oakland Community College - Jewish Student Organization.
7) Was promoted to President of said organization.
8) Began writing my book: Long Live Which King
9) Started blogging once more: asoulspeakstoyou.blogspot.com
10) Had my introduction to a huge next stage in my life.
11) Am less than a year away from receiving my Associates in Liberal Arts.
12) Begun my application process to the college of my dreams: Michigan State University!
13) Had the courage to be who I am, regardless of thoughts, stares, or whispers.
14) Had a Bar Mitzvah in Israel.
15) Learned 5 different ways a true leader acts.
16) Had an article published in the Detroit Jewish News.
17) Begun learning Chassidus with my 2 oldest nieces; and begun making a Chassidus Workbook.
18) Davened by King David, my namesake, and many other holy people I have heard stories of my entire childhood.
19) Learned to love life for life itself, and to simply make the best of it.

A Priceless Gift

A Priceless Gift
By Dovid Nissan Roetter
(Dedicated to my Taglit-Birthright group, Hillel Bus 1147)

When you feel down, they know how to make you smile.
When things seem wrong, they know how to change it.
When life is overloaded, they know how to ease the work.
When you feel scared and helpless, they know how to comfort you.

You met them just the other day; already you are family.
You can't remember their first name; they hug you nonetheless.
You are shocked at the love they show; it touches you to the core.
You are not judged in the slightest; instead they only help you grow.

A Birthright group is more than just friends.
A Birthright group is not bound by location.
A Birthright group is there no matter what or when.
A Birthright group is a level of family that no one else can reach.

Taglit is more than just a trip.
Taglit is a priceless gift.
Taglit is a way of life.
Taglit is our destiny.

I can never thank you all enough for the life you helped me find.
I can never forget the lessons you have taught me.
I can never forget how you accepted me openly.
I can never forget how you refused to give up on me.

Israel may be far away.
Israel may be but a hope.
Israel may be just a memory.
Israel may be scary at times.
But Israel is what gave me you as my family.

A Wall's Mission - Tisha B'Av at the Kotel

As I sit here on the cold stone floor,

I look up at a wall so very old.

I think back in time to when it was young,

And it had its brothers together with him.

I can see the four siblings standing tall and proud,

Protecting the house that belongs to the One Above.

Suddenly there is a great tremor,

An army of red has breached the city.

It cries out in horror, as it watches them slaughter his three brothers,

And sets the house it swore to protect ablaze.

They attack him from behind,

But he stands tall over them all.

He refuses to bend, to give in,

He will complete his mission or die trying.

He will stand proud for the test of time,

Giving hope to his nation in exile.

As the smoke clears he sees in disbelief,

The remains of his beloved brothers.

He promises the sages that he will not let them die in vain,

He will be right here, waiting for the new Temple to be built.

He swears to hasten the Redemption,

By bring all of our tears straight to G-d.

He will be our middleman,

And deliver our heart’s pleas.

I slowly come back to the present,

And I rise from the ground.

I walk over to the Wall,

And take it in a loving embrace.

I softly whisper that I know how you feel,

For I too have lost a loved one.

And we both will get ours back,

When the Redemption does come.

So stand proud for just a bit longer,

The time is almost ripe.

Together I will stand with you,

Helping you as you help me.

I slowly back away,

From this wall of faith.

I know that soon we will smile together,

As Moshiach reunites us with our loved ones.

Inspiration

“You can only inspire in others what others have previously inspired within you.” ~Dovid N. Roetter

Five Types of Leadership

Five Types of Leadership that I have personally witnessed throughout my stay in Israel. Each one is a very different level. Each one is just as important. Each one is just as difficult to accomplish. Each one is a level of courage I can only dream of achieving.

ALL of them I learned thanks to my Taglit-Birthright Israel: #Hillel #Bus1147 family - Thanks guys.

Type #1
You put aside everything just to help someone.
You care not what your job is; you do what needs to be done.
You show that other people matter more than they realize.
You disregard higher orders due to staying truthful.
Type #2
Nobody respects you, you feel so alone.
You are unsure what to do next, nor to whom to turn.
You decide to show the world that their opinions matter not.
You conquer your dreams; proving that nothing can stop determination.
Type #3
You have the chance to grab a dream anyone would want.
Yet, it means to make someone change everything they hold dear.
You take a stand and decline, this offer that seems so grand.
You will not create your own happiness by stealing another’s.
Especially when the other person does not realize what they may lose.
Type #4
Something embarrassing has occurred; you feel so ashamed.
Yet you look the person in the eye and admit your misdeed.
You choose not to avoid it; you take it like a man.
You learn from your mistakes; and acknowledge errors in your past.
Type #5
No one else is doing it, you are scared out of your mind.
Yet you know this must be done, so you stand alone.
You fight all fears and show that you will not be pressured.
You stand up for what you believe in; even against the entire world.

The Two Sirens

There are two types of sirens that can go off in Jerusalem:
1. The piercing shriek of war that screams its desire for our Jewish blood to seep through even the smallest cracks of Israel's stones.
2. The sweet sound of the city welcoming the Shabbat as one nation, one people, bringing holiness to every soul it touches, its pure music blessing us all with wishes for a peaceful Day of Rest.