Wonder of the World

In the large pile of mail awaiting us upon our return to Seattle, each of the kids received a free gift from the "PJ Library." For the month of December, each child enrolled in the program got a different cd based on their age group. Ze'ev's cd was Neshama Carlebach's "Every little soul must shine." I know that as a singer she is quite controversial in the Orthodox community, but I have thoroughly enjoyed her songs over the last couple weeks. She has accompanied me during many hours of cooking and cleaning. Two songs in particular have touched my soul. I feel my heart smile each time I hear them.

The first is called "Wonder of the world." The music is quite beautiful, but I couldn't seem to find it online. The lyrics are -

The Great Wall of China is mighty long
And nothing compares to the Taj Mahal
But I don't need to sail the seven seas cause
You're the only wonder of this world for me,
You're the only wonder of this world for me...

Machu Picchu reaches to the sky
And the Roman Colosseum, you won't believe your eyes
But there's nowhere that I would rather be cause
You're the only wonder of this world for me.


At first glance, these words can sound kind of cheesy, but what touches me is how true they are. Each child is such a wonder! I watch my children growing and learning and I feel so blessed to have these absolute wonders living in my house, spending day after day with me. I don't have to get on an airplane or cross time zones to marvel at G-d's creation. They inspire me more than any vacation or "wonder of the world" ever could.


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The second song literally made me cry the first time it played.
I was taken aback by the emotion, so I asked Yoni to listen to it with me and see if he had a similar reaction. As the song began, Yoni quietly nodded and explained to me that when Adina was hours old, he played this song for me in the hospital and sang it as I held my baby girl. I had no tactile memory of this experience, but apparently I remembered on some level.
Independent from that experience, it just so happens that the week I listened to this song was the week of Parasha Vayechi where this pasuk is found. And the meaning is beautiful on so many levels...

הַמַּלְאָךְ הַגֹּאֵל אֹתִי מִכָּל-רָע, יְבָרֵךְ אֶת-הַנְּעָרִים,
וְיִקָּרֵא בָהֶם שְׁמִי,
וְשֵׁם אֲבֹתַי אַבְרָהָם וְיִצְחָק, וְיִדְגּוּ לָרֹב בְּקֶרֶב הָאָרֶץ.

Hamalach hagoel oti mikol ra yevarech et han’arim vikareh bahem sh’mi
V’shem avotai Avraham v’Yizchak v’yidgu larov b’kerev ha’aretz.

Translation:
May the angel who has delivered​ me from all harm bless these lads. May they carry on my name and the names of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac, and may they grow into a multitude​ on earth.



*Parasha Vayechi - weekly Torah portion
*pasuk - line