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

Ashes to Flame

 

Ashes to Flame

The lies I hear

Scream loud in my ear

They promise, but tear me apart

Desires betray

They lead me astray

Leaving scars in the depth of my heart

The mask I wear

Is heavy with care

And it mocks every prayer that I cry

I stumble, I fall

I feel nothing at all

Just ashes and silence inside

The ego takes hold

Its grip turns cold

It laughs as I kneel in the dirt

It whispers with glee

“You’ll never break free—

Your love is a dream that won’t work.”

But then a hand breaks through

A friend pulls me true

Reminding me I’m not alone

In the pit of despair

They meet me there

And together we carve out a home

The ego fights back

It plans its attack

But we rise, one bundle, one flame

Through faith above reason

In every season

We cry out the Creator’s Name

So though I bleed

It’s love that I need

And it’s love that will carry me still

From the lowest descent

To the heights heaven-sent

His mercy fulfills every will

Through the Ashes

Through the Ashes

The lies I hear
Scream loud in my ear
They promise, but tear me apart

Desires betray
They lead me astray
Leaving scars in the depth of my heart

The mask I wear
Is heavy with care
And it mocks every prayer that I cry

I stumble, I fall
I feel nothing at all
Just ashes and silence inside

But a hand breaks through
A friend pulls me true
Reminding me I’m not alone

In the pit of despair
They meet me there
And together we carve out a home

The ego fights back
It plans its attack
But we rise, one bundle, one flame

Through faith above reason
In every season
We cry out the Creator’s Name

So though I bleed
It’s love that I need
And it’s love that will carry me still

From the lowest descent
To the heights heaven-sent
His mercy fulfills every will

The Path of Struggle

The Path of Struggle

The nights feel long

The pain feels strong

And the ego keeps whispering lies

The war within

The weight of sin

It crushes, it burns, it denies

But the heart won’t break

It learns to awake

When a friend holds your hand through the storm

Through fire and tears

Through shadows and fears

A new soul begins to form

So we fall, we rise

We tear off disguise

Till only the truth can remain

Through love we ascend

Through the strength of a friend

And eternal connection we gain

So cling to the Light

Through the darkest night

For the Creator is near all along

When the hearts unite

Faith takes its flight

And our suffering turns into song

Depart From Evil

Depart From Evil 

I spit at the mirror, I curse at the night,

The filth of my heart won’t let in the light.

I claw at the chains that tighten my breath,

Every thought that I chase just drags me to death.

I preach that I’m holy, but rot fills my veins,

My ego’s a tyrant that laughs at my pains.

I run from the shadows, they tear me apart,

I see that the devil’s been etched in my heart.

The more that I fight, the deeper I sink,

I drown in the poison I promised to drink.

My “strength” is a lie, my “virtue” a fraud,

I’m nothing but ashes without my God.

But just when I’m shattered, too broken to stand,

A whisper of mercy takes hold of my hand.

The fire is quenched, the torment is still,

The Healer restores me—according to His will.

So evil departs, not by might, not by art,

But by faith above reason and love in the heart.

Through prayer and surrender, the bondage will cease,

The darkness is broken, the soul finds its peace.

The Mountain of Fire and Love

The Mountain of Fire and Love

The mountain bled with smoke and flame,

my ego howled, consumed by shame.

It clawed my flesh, it tore my soul,

its hunger dark, a gaping hole.

The nations rose with teeth of steel,

they cursed the light, they cursed the deal.

“Bow to no law, serve lust and greed,

forget this path, let pride succeed.”

The sky was black, the earth did quake,

my heart near burst, my bones did break.

In chains of wrath I gasped for breath,

each step I took was close to death.

Yet in the pit a whisper came,

a tender spark, a holy flame.

“Unite as one, annul, embrace,

together you will find His face.”

The fire cooled, the night grew still,

my shattered will was bent to thrill.

The Torah shone, a healing dove,

and from the ash sprang endless love.

Now hand in hand, we stand above,

no fear remains, just bonds of love.

One soul, one heart, our will undone,

unconditional — we are one.