Heaven-Bound

Julian Alper

The straps looked old and weary, wearing
thin in places, little tears here and there,
no longer as black as they once were.
The boxes weren’t perfectly square;
the paint on them was flaking,
rendering them completely unfit for ritual use.
They needed a good overhaul, a complete refurbishment,
and though I was somewhat embarrassed, I grasped my
fear by the arm and took them to the tefillin repair man.

He meticulously scrutinized the straps and said,
“You know where these will go?”
I bowed my head, my shame burning fiercely on my face.
“They’ll go straight to Heaven
and will testify in your defense
before the Heavenly Tribunal.”

Now
it’s no longer a bind
to put on my renovated tefillin
knowing that they too will be Heaven-bound.
I hope I’ll be deemed fit to meet them there
im yirtzeh Hashem
… but not just yet.

               Im yirtzeh Hashem—if it’s G-d’s will.