What is to be said of Dan,

who traveled in galus

throughout, and on the derech hamidbar

and was assailed by Amalek (the righteous hate the wicked, true, but the wicked seek to kill the righteous), and still held firm to His ways?

Rebbe stated nothing less than ushering Israel into the Elul of return like Nahshon ben Amminadab led us into the Yam Suf.

Dan was rebuked and yet still loved his Father, clinging to his G-d despite being outside the Clouds of Glory, the Pillars of Fire.

This is a glimmer of a secret to that level hidden except from Avraham Avinu, Sarah Emaynu, the converts because “On the third day Avraham looked up with his eyes and saw the Place from the distance. (Bereshis 22:4)”

He then states to the travelers whom were with him, excepting Yitzchak (“and then will our mouths be filled with laughter”), “You shall sit here, remain with the donkey, and I and the lad will go off until that point and we will worship, and then come back to you. (Bereshis 22:5)”

There is a fear that cripples and an awe that frees. The holy seforim state the highest level of the heavens is reserved for Avraham, Sarah, and the righteous converts because they did not remain, relieved from the burden of this challenge, and like Dan, clung to His majesty even in that darkest level not reached in Mitzrayim.

There is no poem tonight only this:

I returned home and stood from my chair to stretch when a small movement caught the outside line of my focus. I first thought a rodent was present but on closer inspection I saw a small bird sitting in my hamper, a sparrow to be exact. It was quiet and moved little. I was a little startled but donned gloves and went to gently pick the creature up to free it. I captured it under a cloth and gently gripped it when it sprang  to, fully awake, and began to scream. It had only a moment to fear like that and then it was outside, gone, and quiet again.

It was you I thought of then, sitting and afraid to move, unable and not wanting to see the place in the distance. That does not come from anger. Rather, the possuk says, “(We) will return to you.”

In the end, our redemption will be for the world and those sitting, waiting, will be lifted too, but on the shoulders of others and though the joy will be shared, how can it be likened to Dan!? To Avraham and Sarah!? To the stranger who sits alone at the table not corrupted with cynicism, doubt, fears?

It cannot. Choose your influences wisely.