Tamar is a young woman's voice from Jerusalem

laughing about what doesn't

concern her anymore

about Manhattan parking

and congested bridges and entry premiums.

She says she is in Jerusalem now

and such things are no longer on her radar.

She wants to know, instead, 

an obscure phrase from vintage television,

a lament of "oh! the pain!"

And she wants mothers

to stay home with children

And she wants the dream of aliyah

to spread so that one day

one day one day one day

everyone will be home

to celebrate Shavuot together again.

Everyday, baruch Hashem, we are coming home.

I'm learning my words,

second grade grammar,

and hoping for the grace to be

such a slow student in this.

It, this language, is key.

I pray to greet Tamar in Jerusalem soon

only in Hebrew.  

Slowly, slowly.

Today I learned how to order chocolate cake and coffee.

I am ready.