Inferno
עַ֥ל נַהֲר֨וֹת׀ בָּבֶ֗ל שָׁ֣ם יָ֭שַׁבְנוּ גַּם־בָּכִ֑ינוּ בְּ֝זָכְרֵ֗נוּ אֶת־צִיּֽוֹן׃
By the rivers of Babylon
there we sat down and wept,
when we remembered Zion.
Babylonian exile
Californian exile
Vale of tears
Betrayed
Rejected
Abandoned
Uprooted violently
Terrifying journey
Barren wilderness
Lost home
Aborted friendship
Broken love
Drifting away
Far from Israel
Far from the ones I love
Alienated
Confused
Discouraged
Rejected
Rejected
Rejected
My God, my God
Why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me?
Lost and alone
Longing to love
Longing to be loved
Sadness
Anger
Despair
Fear
Anguish
Nightmare
Silence
Darkness
Night
Judah has gone into exile because of affliction and hard servitude;
she dwells now among the nations, but finds no resting place;
her pursuers have all overtaken her in the midst of her distress.
Purgatorio
עָרֹ֨ם יָצָתִי מִבֶּ֣טֶן אִמִּ֗י וְעָרֹם֙ אָשׁ֣וּב שָׁ֔מָה יְהוָ֣ה נָתַ֔ן וַיהוָ֖ה לָקָ֑ח יְהִ֛י שֵׁ֥ם יְהוָ֖ה מְבֹרָֽךְ׃
Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return.
The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away;
blessed be the name of the LORD.
I have sinned
I have trespassed
I have wounded
I have betrayed
I have rejected
I have abandoned
I have alienated
I have confused
I have discouraged
I have caused sadness
I have caused anger
I have caused despair
I have failed to believe
I have failed to hope
I have failed to love
You whom I have wounded
And betrayed
I ask for forgiveness
You who have wounded
And betrayed
I forgive
Redemptive wounds
Purifying fire
Dawn
I know, O Lord, that your judgments are right, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
Let your mercy be ready to comfort me according to your promise to your servant.
Let your compassion come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight.
Paradiso
New home
New friends
New mission
Forgiveness
Trust
Peace
I shall believe
I shall hope
I shall love
I shall be found
I shall be healed
I shall be loved
Joy reborn
Renewed light
Day
A Song of Ascents.
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”
The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad.
Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negeb.
Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy.
He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing,
Shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.
שִׁ֗יר הַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת בְּשׁ֣וּב יְ֭הוָה אֶת־שִׁיבַ֣ת צִיּ֑וֹן הָ֝יִ֗ינוּ כְּחֹלְמִֽים׃
אָ֤ז יִמָּלֵ֪א שְׂח֡וֹק פִּינוּ֮ וּלְשׁוֹנֵ֪נוּ רִ֫נָּ֥ה אָ֭ז יֹאמְר֣וּ בַגּוֹיִ֑ם הִגְדִּ֥יל יְ֝הוָ֗ה לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת עִם־אֵֽלֶּה׃
הִגְדִּ֣יל יְ֭הוָה לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת עִמָּ֗נוּ הָיִ֥ינוּ שְׂמֵחִֽים׃
שׁוּבָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה אֶת־שְׁבוּתֵנוּ כַּאֲפִיקִ֥ים בַּנֶּֽגֶב׃
הַזֹּרְעִ֥ים בְּדִמְעָ֗ה בְּרִנָּ֥ה יִקְצֹֽרוּ׃
הָ֘ל֤וֹךְ יֵלֵ֨ךְ׀ וּבָכֹה֮ נֹשֵׂ֪א מֶֽשֶׁךְ־הַ֫זָּ֥רַע בֹּֽא־יָב֥וֹא בְרִנָּ֑ה נֹ֝שֵׂ֗א אֲלֻמֹּתָֽיו׃