Where in Jewish History Are You?

Place yourself for a minute anywhere you like in Jewish history.  In anyone's shoes you choose.

Moshe Rabbeinu, looking over the Yarden river, seeing it all but not being able to touch.

Yehoshua, leading the nation in conquests, watching HaShem's promises come true step by step.

During 400 years of Shoftim, judges, some of whom led, some of whom were ignored.  Shimshon, whom HaShem used to defeat the Pelishtim, even as Shimshon himself was punished for following his eyes and marrying a Pelishti woman himself.

David HaMelech, begging Hashem to be able to build the Mikdash, but being told that his Gd-given role as physical redeemer - warrior, soldier -  makes him unfit to build HaShem's House of Peace.  

Shlomo, building the Mikdash, but then introducing the nation to a thousand forms of idolatry.

Rehav'am and Yerovam - the country is split, and over the next 400 years, there are times of peaceful relations and times of actual wars fought between the two Jewish nations.

Galut Asesret haShevatim.

Galut Bavel.

The return of the "riffraff", rebuilding Yerushalaim, while most of the nation stays in Bavel.  Finding a lone Sefer Torah, relearning all the mitzvot.  

The second Beit HaMikdash - rebuilding, returning to the mitzvot , but without the true Shechina.

Towards the destruction - the intolerance between groups of Jews.

Times of persecution.

Times of rights for Jews.

Tor HaZahav.

More persecution.

A bit of respite in one country.

Expulsions from other countries.

Pogroms.

Education.  Jobs.  Einstein, Freud.

Massacres.

The Holocaust.

The Iron Curtain.

Imagine yourself in any of these places.  Really see yourself there.  Feel the humility of the Jew, still uncertain when HaShem will redeem His nation.

Then, allow your chosen persona to dream.   

Wherever I place myself in Jewish history, it seems that this song and video would be no more than a dream, a prayer:

http://shironet.mako.co.il/artist?type=lyrics&lang=1&prfid=6878&wrkid=17542 (print out the words, then press play on the video at the top-left of the page) 

And yet, here I am, just a plain ordinary Jew, not deserving anything special, LIVING THIS DREAM.

Thank you, Gd.