Prayer for a Spiritual Heir that will Carry on the Torch

Parashat Vayelech

Prayer for a Spiritual Heir that will Carry on the Torch

Hashem, thank you for crowning me a leader and head.

I’m grateful for all the years unique people I led.

Yet sometimes at night I entertain certain thoughts of dread,

wondering whether Your cloud will still rest on my bed?

Hashem, what will be with my charge after I’m dead?

Who will continue to care and lead in my stead?

 

I pray that soon my son will find a wife to wed,

who is able to continue the light to spread!

 

Knowing that life is not eternal or long,

I access my years asking what I did wrong.

 

I still feel energetic, healthy and strong,

happy to perpetually keep singing my song!

 

Yet what will be when I no longer can come or go?

Who will continue to tend to the plants that I sow?

 

To whom will I be able to show

how to knead, braid and bake my dough?

 

Although my candle is still aglow,

everyone must realize and know,

just as the sea water has ebbs and flow,

life umph starts in high and ends in low.

 Please Hashem do not forsake me when I will near my end!

I trust that You will be with me, and a replacement send!

 

May it be one who can truly comprehend!

the grand mission and only on You depend!

 

May she learn how to every color blend,

of the many souls that she will befriend!

 May she know how the strings of my tapestry to mend!

 after I’m gone let her continue the light to extend!

Based on Devarim Chapter 31:2-9

 

ספר דברים פרק לא פסוק ב

וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם בֶּן מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה אָנֹכִי הַיּוֹם לֹא אוּכַל עוֹד לָצֵאת וְלָבוֹא וַהָשֵׁם אָמַר אֵלַי לֹא תַעֲבֹר אֶת הַיַּרְדֵּן הַזֶּה:

“He said to them, ‘Today I am one hundred and twenty years old. I can no longer go or come,’ and Hashem said to me, ‘You shall not cross this Jordan’” (Devarim 31:2).

 

ספר דברים פרק לא פסוק ו חִזְקוּ וְאִמְצוּ אַל תִּירְאוּ וְאַל תַּעַרְצוּ מִפְּנֵיהֶם כִּי הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ הוּא הַהֹלֵךְ עִמָּךְ לֹא יַרְפְּךָ וְלֹא יַעַזְבֶךָּ: (ז) וַיִּקְרָא משֶׁה לִיהוֹשֻׁעַ וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו לְעֵינֵי כָל יִשְׂרָאֵל חֲזַק וֶאֱמָץ כִּי אַתָּה תָּבוֹא אֶת הָעָם הַזֶּה אֶל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע יְדֹוָד לַאֲבֹתָם לָתֵת לָהֶם וְאַתָּה תַּנְחִילֶנָּה אוֹתָם:

(ח) וַהָשֵׁם הוּא הַהֹלֵךְ לְפָנֶיךָ הוּא יִהְיֶה עִמָּךְ לֹא יַרְפְּךָ וְלֹא יַעַזְבֶךָּ לֹא תִירָא וְלֹא תֵחָת:

(ט) וַיִּכְתֹּב משֶׁה אֶת הַתּוֹרָה הַזֹּאת וַיִּתְּנָהּ אֶל הַכֹּהֲנִים בְּנֵי לֵוִי הַנֹּשְׂאִים אֶת אֲרוֹן בְּרִית הָשֵׁם וְאֶל כָּל זִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל:

“Hashem, your G-d He will cross before you; He will destroy these nations from before you so that you will possess them. Yehoshua he will cross before you, as Hashem has spoken. Then Hashem will do to them, as He did to the Amorite kings, Sichon and Og, and to their land, [all of] which He destroyed. And [when] Hashem delivers them before you, you shall do to them according to all the commandments that I have commanded you. ‘Be strong and courageous! Neither fear, nor be dismayed of them, for Hashem, your G-d He is the One Who goes with you. He will neither fail you, nor forsake you.’ Then Moshe called Yehoshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, ‘Be strong and courageous!’ For you shall come with this people to the land which Hashem swore to their forefathers to give them. And you shall apportion it to them as an inheritance. Hashem He is the One Who goes before you; He will be with you; He will neither fail you, nor forsake you. Do not fear, and do not be dismayed.’ Then Moshe wrote this Torah, and gave it to the Kohanim, the descendants of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of Hashem, and to all the elders of Israel” (Devarim 31:6-9).