Rabbi Norman Hirsh's poem "Becoming," from his book of poetry God loves Becoming, is included in the recently published revised edition of the prayer book for Reform Judaism, Mishkan T'filah. The poem is placed right after the ten commandments in the first morning service for the Sabbath. BECOMING Once or twice in a lifetime A man or woman may choose A radical leaving, having heard Lech lecha — Go forth. God disturbs us toward our destiny By hard events And by freedom's now urgent voice Which explode and confirm who we are. We don't like leaving, But God loves becoming. NOTE: BECOMING Genesis 12:1-9 tells of Abram's leaving so much behind to begin the journey of the Jewish people. Lech lecha are the fifth and sixth Hebrew words of Genesis 12:1: The Lord said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, and from your kindred, and from your father's house to the land that I will show you." Abram will become Abraham in Genesis 17:5. Return to main Classmate Activities page