1. Awakening – The Point in the Heart

I wander through life with hollow eyes,

Drunk on illusions, feeding on lies.

But a thorn in my chest will not let me sleep,

A hunger eternal, a yearning so deep.

I thought it was madness, I thought it was pain,

But it whispered of truth I could not contain.

“Seek Me in love, not in gold or in lust,

Build in the Ten, in connection and trust.”

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2. Despair – Revelation of Evil

I tried to rise, but the ego screamed,

It shattered my hope, devoured my dream.

Every prayer mocked, every deed cursed,

The will to receive showed its teeth at its worst.

I saw my reflection, a beast in the glass,

Laughing at virtue, spitting at class.

And I cried, “Creator, why was I made?

To drown in the filth of the ego’s blade?”

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3. First Light – Faith Above Reason

In the pit of despair, a spark appeared,

Silent and small, yet sharp and seared.

Not knowledge, not proof, not reason’s chain,

But a whisper of love that broke my pain.

“I am with you,” the silence said,

“Not in your mind, but in what you shed.

Give one drop of love, rise above strife,

That drop is eternal—it’s true, it’s life.”

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4. Connection – The Ten as the Vessel

I fell to the friends, my brothers, my shield,

Their love was the ground where the Light was revealed.

I annulled my pride, I swallowed my hate,

For in them I touched the eternal state.

Each heart was a flame, together they roared,

A field of mercy, the dwelling of Lord.

In their embrace my soul could breathe,

The death of self was the life I received.

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5. Faith and Love – The First Degree

Through the brutal fight, through the endless cost,

I found the one thing that is never lost.

Not power, not wealth, not a fleeting dream,

But eternal love, the Creator’s gleam.

So I give and I burn, I rise and I fall,

But the drop of bestowal outlives it all.

And though I am nothing, my soul can sing—

The first degree is everything.

The First Degree

I choke on the chains of my own desire,

Hands burned bloody from chasing the fire.

Every joy fades, every dream dies,

My heart’s a graveyard of broken lies.

I scream to the void—nothing replies,

Till shame cuts deep and opens my eyes.

I see the friends, I see the flame,

A force of love I cannot name.

The ego claws, it will not let go,

It curses the path, it hates to bestow.

But in the rubble, a whisper is heard—

Not in my voice, but in His word.

“Rise above reason, trust what you feel,

The drop of love you give is real.

It will not be lost, it cannot decay,

It’s eternal Light in a fleeting day.”

So I bow to the friends, my fortress, my guide,

Their hearts are the vessel where I abide.

Through brutal fire, through faith I’m remade,

Unconditional love is the first step laid.

In Pennsylvania’s embrace, at Fox Run’s sacred ground,

Where hearts converge, where love is found,

The Creator’s light, a beacon bright,

Guides our souls through day and night.

From JR’s eyes, the hugs unfold,

Friends like family, warm and bold,

A spectacle divine, the Creator’s art,

Painting joy within each heart.

Lance speaks of love, a tender flame,

Each friend’s embrace, no one the same,

Yearning to unite, above the strife,

Rising as one to a higher life.

Ella’s tale begins at journey’s start,

A team of care, with open heart,

Bananas, water, love’s sweet deed,

A trip that meets the soul’s deep need.

The rain, a downpour, fierce and wild,

Yet halts as if by heaven styled,

The moment we arrive, the skies clear wide,

Nature’s bow to the Creator’s pride.

That first night’s circle, voices raised,

Songs of unity, our hearts ablaze,

One family formed, hearts intertwined,

A merging of souls, pure and kind.

Ella’s friends, in awe they stand,

On gloomy days, the land so grand,

Nature’s beauty, the Creator’s face,

Manifest in this holy place.

Familiar faces, once just a screen,

Now alive, in love serene,

The American kli, a mighty force,

Part of Bnei Baruch’s sacred course.

In the forest’s heart, a circle forms,

Connected souls, through love transformed,

To Mother Nature, to each other bound,

One in spirit, on sacred ground.

The musical night, the gifts we share,

Warmth and joy fill the air,

Unity’s spark, a radiant glow,

Hearts aligned in a boundless flow.

Newcomers’ fire, their vibrant zeal,

Ignites the kli, makes it real,

A question to Rav, bold and true,

Their energy lifts the whole crew.

Andrew sings of hearts that melt,

In love’s vast sea, where grace is felt,

Forging a crown for the One above,

We dive into the waters of love.

The Creator’s reward, a burning desire,

To bestow, to rise, to lift ever higher.

Elliot’s wonder, a journey surreal,

Miracles carve paths where dreams feel real,

The right hand pulls, the left tests will,

Yet through the dark, we climb the hill.

The Middle Line, our choice, our way,

Balancing life, come what may.

Bill’s fervor drove him twenty-three hours,

Fueled by prayers for the Creator’s powers,

Light of faith, connection, and love,

Shining on the kli from above.

Sisters and brothers, with care they served,

Meals prepared, with love preserved,

Every detail, a testament clear,

To unity’s strength, to hearts sincere.

And when his truck met fate’s harsh call,

Bill’s heart still sang, “Thank you, Lord, for all.”

For this congress, the most profound,

Where heaven’s touch was truly found.

We leave on waves of love’s embrace,

Elevated, united, in sacred space,

One step closer to the Creator’s light,

Hearts merged as one, in eternal flight.

Baruch Hashem, for this holy bond,

In Pennsylvania’s arms, we found the beyond.

Ein Ode Milvado