Chaver Chayil (A Friend of Valor)

A good friend who can find?
Who is worth more than rubies or chocolate.
Whose friends trust in them,
their dreams, secrets, and their fears,
knowing whatever is said will be quickly forgotten,
whether whispered into the ears or
cried onto the shoulders or chest,
and who brings only goodwill to the friendship.

A good friend is there,
like a brother or sister you never had or knew,
to celebrate a success or to talk heart to heart at 2 a.m.
when you don't feel like listening to the silence of the clock ticking.
A good friend listens with all their soul and all their might
after a "date" that went too far
or is from ...well, you know...the warm place,
or when memories have been stirred up from the lake of one's experiences.
An amigo/a bueno/a will go places with you,
so that one will have company,
finding out later that the two of you were the only members of the tribe
or the only single people present,
and being able to tease each other afterwards until one of you finally departs .

A friend of valor is harder to find then a blue diamond,
who remembers or forgets your birthday,
depending on your wishes
who organizes or reminds you to organize
events for the holidays,
remembering those who do not have family here,
who permits you fix them up and vice versa
with another friend, your cousin, computer date, or personal ad response.
A chaver chayil feels good to hug after a long time apart,
touching but never touched, parting but never parted
sees when you can't see the crumbling trees in the rain forest,
hears the violin playing softly in the moonlight,
defends you when you can not, says the words escaping your lips,
and stands by you as events rumble by.

A friend of valor doesn't care when your cat climbs on them,
can talk to your child(ren) or parent(s) when you can't
and transcends all boundaries of difference that bind us and separate us
whether they be income, age, weight, appearance, intellect, parental or marital status,
religiosity, race, ethnicity, sex, physical or mental challenge, or sexual preference.
Who isn't afraid to tell you what they think,
reminding you to practice safe sex,
encourages you to change your life when you want to,
is there for support when you need them,
never seems to display anger like your relationships,
and always has the time to enjoy Thai food on a coupon.

Blessed art thou, Our G-d, who controls the universe and
who is also allegedly sometimes single
who gives us the opportunities to run our own life and to create a family of friendships
within the Jewish community.

If you have a friend present, you may honor them by saying:
May you be like Ruth in our friendship. Thank you for choosing to be my friend.