The One Who Makes Peace
Rabbi Ariel Tovlev
blessing bread bought
from the supermarket
our blessing says, thank you God
for bringing forth bread from the earth
but this bread didn’t come from the earth
it came from a store
from a factory
from flour ground
from wheat
from the earth
this bread did not sprout forth
it was created from human hands
we don’t thank God for the wheat
which actually came from the earth
God did not create bread
but God knew we could
my kids ask, why do we pray for God to make peace?
I tell them, God makes peace
like God makes bread
which is to say
we have all
the necessary ingredients
peace will not sprout forth
it will be created from human hands
thank you God, for giving us the wisdom
to turn wheat into bread
thank you God, for giving us the wisdom
to turn love into peace
Smuggling Grace 