Serendipity . . .

Unity in Diversity . . . Hanukkah thoughts
at the time of Rosh Hashanah

During a recent catch-up session with a friend of Jewish heritage over a late afternoon coffee, she mentioned the upcoming “holidays.” By the context of the conversation, I knew she was referring to a religious holiday—not the upcoming Labor Day weekend. “Which holiday is it,” I asked. “Rosh Hashanah,” she replied. Rosh Hashanah, a celebration of the Jewish new year, begins on Sunday, September 13.

My friend and I moved quickly to other topics, but later that evening while sorting through a pile of papers I found a poem given to me a few years back by another Jewish friend—an energetic and enthusiastic woman, now in her early nineties. The poem was written by her husband before he passed away almost a decade ago.

As I reread the poem—clearly written for the holiday of Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of Lights—my thoughts flashed on recent media broadcasts depicting a climate of violence, injustice, bigotry and separation. But the poet suffused his work with a passionate love of humanity—a mind’s reach for unity in diversity—and it kindled in me a light of hope.

No matter what holiday you’ll be celebrating this month, the poem is published here with the hope that it will touch others as it did me.

As we celebrate together in a season of light,
may we see in that light the beauty of our common humanity.

May we also see, reflected in that glow,
the light on our differences and the beauty of man’s diversity.

For these are the lights lit not by one man, but all men—not by one faith,
but by all faiths, not for the freedom of one—but for the freedom of all to worship,
or not to worship, each according to his belief, his heart and his conscience.

May the light that glows in that diversity illumine
the miracle and wonder of creation.

But may we also see in the bright glare of light,
the evil of bigotry, injustice and indifference
that thrives in the darkest recesses of man’s soul.

                 As we celebrate together, may we look into one another’s eyes
                    and see a light reflecting love, understanding and caring.

                                                                ~ by Dr. Edward Osran ~

                                                                (Permission:  Lillian Osran)      

I didn’t have the privilege of meeting Ed Osran—I would have appreciated knowing him.

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Posted on LinkedIn 9/2/15