Vayishlach

 בס״ד

Vayishlach

are we not all lamed

as a result of our struggles with

our own angels

the times in our lives when

we must separate from all we know

and remain alone, naked, on our side of

the Yabok

there to wrestle with our lesser angels

a battle postponed and avoided

not so eager to engage in

the throw and pin of the match

only then is it possible to

move forward - prepared

for the next round

when our wounds will turn to assets

and we’ll be touched, with God’s help, by

“the better angels

     of our nature” *

*Abraham Lincoln, Inaugural Address, 4 March 1861, כ״ב אדר תרכ״א

Vayeitze

 בס״ד

Vayeitze

Should one search for God,

In lightning and thunder, storm and wind,

Or rummage around in the commonplace,

Combing through the familiar?

(To root about for Him,

Arrogantly thinking that He is ours to find,

Like someone’s lost sock,

Or your misplaced keys?)

Frantic now, tossing aside all that he sees,

Pillows, blankets, under beds and sheets,

Casting garments aloft with abandon,

“I know you’re in here!”.

If only he could stop,

Become less aware of himself,

Perceive what is revealed in the unconcealed,

Perhaps a princess, upon a camel’s saddle.

Toldos

 בס״ד

Toldos

The Plishtim blocked up all the wells,

Which Avraham had fathomed,

They did not want them for themselves,

Just so Yitzchok shouldn’t have ‘em.

Naught has changed, for what its worth,

They still have but one desire,

To deny to us our piece on earth,

Then set it all on fire.

No one loves our land like we do,

Neither Roman, Turk, nor Arab,

Muslim, Christian, who-cares-who,

Just wannabes of Jacob.

Chayei Sarah

 בס״ד

Chayei Sarah

Eliezer’s will is one with his master’s

just as a malach has no ratzon

motivated by no desire

other than HaShem’s.

Yet Avraham’s servant is not an angel

or maybe he is, else

where is the angel that Avraham promised

would accompany him?

The shavuah of Eliezer

the oath to which he is bound

Avraham claims as his own*

as if they are the same vow.

Exceeding even heavenly emissaries

Eliezer puts off

his hosts’ hospitality

lest his mission be delayed.

And once he returns with Rivka

by Avraham’s purpose no longer animated

he disappears.

* 24:8 “you shall then be absolved of this oath of mine” ונקית משבעתי

Vayeira

 בס״ד

Vayeira

Three angels appear,

Though they wear human masks,

Sent by Himself,

To complete different tasks.

Micha-el, to announce,

Gavri-el, to destroy,

Rafa-el, came to heal,

And to save Haran’s boy*.

But Lot throws him a curve,

To adjust his tafkid,

“Let me stay in Tzo’ar”,

He begs and he pleads.

Rafael could not change,

His instructions, he knew,

Still he tells Lot to run,

Ere the flame and ash spew.

In the end Lot goes up,

To the mountain, as told,

With his daughters he climbs,

As our story unfolds.

* Lot

Lech Lecha

 בס״ד

Lech Lecha

Lech Lecha moments, come to each one of us,

At a time generally not of our choice,

Am I truly called to take this next step?

Am I really hearing His voice?

And to make matters worse, there isn’t just one,

So many, I had to stop countin’,

No matter how old, there’s always one more,

Like that bear, going over the mountain.

No task seems complete til the next one is done,

They’re connected, like links in a chain,

When nothing is next, maybe then I can rest,

What use is an Ark without rain?

If a shark doesn’t swim, he surely will drown,

By his motion he fills up his gills,

The person who sits, and looks not ahead,

Is soon pushing up daffodils.

So, though I am weary, and want to stand pat,

I know that to something I’m beckoned,

Like Avraham Avinu, who never stood still,

Not him. Not for even a second.

Noach

 בס״ד

Noach

On the 17th of Cheshvan,

The rain started down from heaven,

The earth would not dry out,

Until next Cheshvan…day 27.

Why is the Torah so specific,

To detail such arcana,

Such as the water started drying up,

B’davka, Rosh HaShanah?

Why the ten day separation,

From the start date ’til the end,

Not just 12 months, but 13,

What kind of message does this send?

I do not have the answers,

But it shouldn’t seem so strange,

That for rain we start a-prayin’,

When these dates come into range!

Ten days bein 17 and 7*,

Then from 17, ten more,

Just another of the mysteries,

Which we thank the Master for.

* In Israel, we start to say ותן טל ומטר on 7 Cheshvan