בס״ד
Vayikra
diaphragm, liver and kidneys
organs which separate above from below
and thresh seed from chaff
why with these are we makriv our shelamim?
are we, out of gratitude, pledging freely
to isolate from breath, and eliminate from blood
reckless speech and unfit thought
the dross of human nature?
not limbs nor hide, but only these, are cast
upon the mizbeach, and with kindred fats
their spirit ascends through a filtering fire
sifted, leaving only ashes behind
בס״ד
Pekudei
“entrust”
a rendering of greater import
than reckonings or records
orderings or enumerations
the mishkan and all its kelim
a pikadon, a deposit
each particular
given in trust
as a guarantee
that He will indeed
dwell among us
if we safeguard His pledge
and thus preserve our faith
in each other
בס״ד
Vayakhel/Parah
In Ki Sisa, Shabbos is mentioned,
Only after the Mishkan’s details,
But Shabbos comes first in Vayakhel,
I’m wondering what this entails.
Chazal teach us several perspectives,
I’m sure I have not seen them all,
But looking at Kabbalos Shabbos,
Lecha Dodi sure runs with the ball.
Sof maaseh, b’machshavah techila,
Last created, but first in His thoughts,
So Shabbos is placed at the end of our week,
But it’s also the first thing God wrought.
The week is for building our mishkan,
With parentheses, beginning and end,
Which are Shabbos, the day of kedushah,
A gift from the mind of HaShem.
.
בס״ד
Ki Sisa
The א comes first in א-dam and א-ron,
But they have more in common than this alone,
Give it some thought for just a minute,
Perhaps you’ll discover there’s something in it.
Chava speaks into Adam’s ears,
He eats the apple with no fears,
The people’s shouting Aaron hears,
Golden ringlets fall from ears.
Adam says, “it wasn’t me”,
That Chava should be fired,
“The people made me”, Aaron says,
An answer that’s less than inspired.
Mouths and ears can cause problems,
If they speak or hear without thought,
And admit your responsibility,
When you don’t do what you ought.
But if Aaron couldn’t fix Adam’s sin,
Does anyone have the ability?
They say that moshiach would have come,
But for lack of sagacious agility.
בס״ד
Tetzaveh/Zachor
Before ever moistening a menorah’s blossoms,
Viridescent, a drop of pure pressed olive oil,
Casts a golden glow, glimmering,
Like vernal dew upon almond flowers.
Peering through an olive’s first tear,
We glimpse the adornment of the Kohen,
And only through a sprinkle of oil,
Is his anointment complete.
Etched forever,
Within each drop,
As upon his brow -
Kodesh L’HaShem.
בס״ד
Terumah/Shekalim
HaShem is all about giving
but for us that’s no simple maneuver
we’re enmeshed in a world of receiving
the antidote: “Take for Me terumah”
accept from His hands what he gives us
from his goodness a dwelling erect
be mekabel al m’nat l’hashpiah
in your eyes, just the “other” detect
בס״ד
Mishpatim
Who are these appointed judges,
Who have never been to law school?
How long to assimilate these mishpatim,
Delicate scales of justice calibrated.
These Mishpatim, not merely statutes,
But guidelines by which to emulate our Creator,
An impossible task, to reveal His singularity,
Where Ze’ir, din, and Anpin, chesed, are one. *
* שבת מלכתא, ג״:טז״ (ענייני סעודתא דזעיר אנפין)
