V'eschanan

 בס״ד

V’eschanan

HaShem allotted to the Peoples,

The sun, the moon, the stars,

To provide illumination,

Which they then turned into gods.*

But to His People, Am Yisroel,

This light is more direct,

Yet we often strive to be like them,

An urge that should be checked.

How is it, then, they often claim,

To be here to replace us,

Not satisfied to be themselves,

They berate, and scold, and chase us?

Perhaps hidden in their loathing,

A rebuke may be detected -

To reflect the radiance shone upon us,

And be a beacon, as directed.

It’s as if they say: “Don’t be like us,

Because, if that’s the case,

We’ll remind you of your tafkid,

And shove it in your face.”

* Devarim 4:19