Yom Kippur

 בס״ד

Yom Kippur

airplane flights where i

pored through a chumash

reading each line carefully

searching for meaning, direction

purpose

getting lost in Leviticus

one big “Huh?”

it must be here, it must be

somewhere

or not

digging deeply into

ashkenaz, sefard, chasidus,

and Marvelous Morocco

(those people are alive on the

planet)

but that is not mine either

kids whose paths are all different

from mine

but full of purpose

i like to think that perhaps 

i had something to do with all that

just by being alive

may it all come to testify

on my behalf

Haazinu/Shabbos Shuva

 בס״ד

Haazinu/Shabbos Shuva

Some crops can flourish

through storm and driving rain

others must have droplets

and gentle dew

And so it is with us

for some, the thrust and parry

of point and counterpoint

argument and reply

For others

the slow soaking drip irrigation

of words softly spoken

and hearts listening to hearts

Some are gripped by the thunder in the heavens

others embrace the gentle song of the earth

roar and whisper, zachar and nekeva

and, for each, a fitting witness

Rosh HaShanah

 בס״ד

Rosh HaShanah

Are we not all offered up,

by our fathers and mothers,

their hearts in their throats,

to a world of smoke and fire?

Do we not then turn around,

give over our own sons and daughters,

and, with our very hands,

place them upon the same mizbeach?

Knowing only that God sees what we do,

that simple faith brings simple compassion,

our children, like us, designated from the womb,

to relinquish their dearest.

        Inspired by the slicha אם אפס רבע הקן.

Netzavim-Vayeilech

 בס״ד

Netzavim-Vayeilech

Together we stand, and together 

we fall,

The choices are ours, be it sunshine 

or squall,

The more we accuse, and speak ill 

about “them”,

Misfortune will follow, so don’t 

blame HaShem.

All of creation responds to 

our actions,

If we choose to unite, or divide 

into factions,

To our Land we’ve returned, from darkness 

to light,

Despite all our errors, we did 

some things right. 

The song we now sing, is a tune of 

our making,

Make it resonate well, and not set the 

earth quaking,

So, stand as our witnesses, heaven

 and earth,

Air, water, and dust, the stuff of 

our birth.

Ki Savo

 בס״ד

Ki Savo

Brachas and klalahs,

From Grizim and Eval,

Floating out of the valley,

Where the Levi’im intone.

Amen, we say, again and again,

How can one say amen to a klalah -

May it be Thy will, HaShem,

To punish us as needed?

We give our lives over,

Not only for onesh, but for skhar,

To Him alone, is our consent granted,

To kiss, or to chastise.

A child gives permission to another,

To praise and to scold,

But it must be earned,

There must first be, relationship.

A grandchild must first trust,

Before looking into the eyes,

And accepting the embrace,

Of a grandfather.

Ki Seitze

 בס״ד

Ki Seitze

A hated’s first son must inherit,

But not so with Leah’s Reuven,

Yosef is Rochel’s, but he’s sold away,

To Mitzrayim he goes down in chains.

Yishmael does not get the bochura,

And Esav the Ruddy gets shunned,

And both bochurim might well be described,

As wayward rebellious sons.

But if we heed Avraham’s example,

And that of Yitzchak as well,

And Yaakov, too, when it comes down to that,

There’s an alternate pattern to tell. 

The more laws the better it seems,

Ask any Israeli official,

But breaking the rules is our national sport,

Our models are extra-judicial.

Shoftim

 בס״ד

Shoftim

Where have they gone,

Leaders by a greater light guided,

Not out of pride,

But out of calling.

Where might they be found,

Those humble ones,

Who only reluctantly leave the peace,

 of home, farm, village.

Where are the ones who toil,

Not for horses, nor wives,

Nor silver, nor gold,

But for a higher purpose.

Where should we search,

For one who treasures the klal,

And cherishes the prat,

And teaches by example.

Look to the one who remains above the fray,

Who learns from the errors of our past,

And thus, to whom we are all inclined,

To listen.