In the United States, June 14 marks our annual celebration of Flag Day, a time set aside to commemorate the adoption of our flag and to reflect on the foundation of our nation’s freedoms. The Hebrew word for flag is דֶגֶל (degel), an anagram for the root גָּדַל (gadal), which means to grow up, to become great, or to advance. Our flag is a symbol of how far we have come since our nation’s birth and also how far we still have to go in the enormous task of repairing this fragile, precious nation and world.
For me, seeing the flags of the United States and Israel on either side of the ark in our sanctuary, in our chapel, and on the hillside of our mountaintop always inspires a feeling of great hope for an even better tomorrow. Even amidst the tragic shootings of recent weeks, I pray that we will use our strength and influence to produce a future of blessing and promise and to always be a beacon of light among the nations. Hoping that this special prayer from our colleague, Rabbi Naomi Levy, will bring you encouragement and illumination on this year’s Flag Day.
—Cantor Emma Lutz
A Prayer for a Better World (Rabbi Naomi Levy, 2002)
You have given us a wonderful and horrible world, God. Why? Why is this world so beautiful and majestic and yet so full of disaster and disease? Why is there abundance and dire poverty, kindness and cruelty? Why do some live in peace while others live in fear and war? Why did You bless us with one hand God, and then curse us with the other?
Please show Yourself, God; help us. Give us the wisdom to eradicate disease, the tools to end hunger, the courage and compassion to overcome hatred and bloodshed. Turn our complacency into action, soften our hardened hearts, transform our despair into hope.
Grace us with Your presence, God; teach us how to bless our world with health, abundance, joy, and peace. Amen.