Ki Sisa

 בס״ד

Ki Sisa

Desperate for a god, they created one,

A theme that repeats through time,

The fear that you’ve been abandoned,

"So I’ll invent one that is mine."

Could Moshe not have arranged to send,

Some signal from the mount,

A flash of light, a shofar blown,

On which the multitude could count?

A calendar, not just word of mouth,

To check, to accurately display,

For this people freed from slavery,

For not much more than 90 days?

We were expected to hold on to faith,

When there was nothing left to grasp,

Bereft, alone, our Moshe gone?

Was that not too much to ask?

Purim

 בס״ד

Day-o 5786

(To the tune of the Banana Boat Song)

Day-o, day-o, daylight come an’ I wanna go home…

Trump he send the whole US Navy,

To put a scare in ol’ Khameini,

Netanyahu got de best idea,

Put a popeye* in he ear!   (*an Israeli air to ground missile)

Day-o…

Iran say dey got lots o’ rockets,

An’ oder’ weapons in dey pockets,

But dey said dat once before,

Jus’ before dey lost dat war!

Day-o…

Now, Haman t’ought he could do whatever,

He got de power, he so very clever,

He t’rew de dice so he could try,

To put an end to Mordechai!

Day-o…

He convince de Persian King, now

He even get his signet ring, now

Held all de cards, but showed he hand,

To kill de Jews, dat was he plan!

Day-o…

So…….de lesson is:

Ya got to know when to hold ‘em,*  (*song by Kenny Rogers)

Know when to fold ‘em,

Know when to walk away,

Know when to run,

Ya never count your money,

When yer sittin’ at the table,

They’ll be time enough for countin’,

When the dealin’s done.

(repeat)

Tetzaveh/Zachor

 בס״ד

Tetzaveh/Zachor

The Ephod with it’s shoham stones,

Me’il, Ketones, in their place,

Choshen Mishpat, gems in rows,

Upon a woven, golden, plate.

Twisted linen shoulder straps,

Blue and crimson woolen threads,

All on Aharon’s shoulders rest,

Golden Tzitz upon his head.

And yet, this burden, naught compared,

To the taxing load he gravely bears,

To kapara seek for Yisroel,

Of greater weight than what he wears.

Terumah

 בס״ד

Terumah

With the Luchos placed gently within the Aron,

The cover was now placed upon it,

Golden staves set within golden rings,

Like a song, lifted all those who bore it.

But with no soul within, as if weighted by chains,

The Aron now heavy,  just dead weight remains,

Like a guf without breath, a case with no klaff,

Covered with gold, but that’s not enough.

Within the Kodesh HaKedoshim,

An empty Aron may not to dwell,

If devoid of Moshe’s Tablets, 

Was it unbearable now, as well?

Mishpatim/Shekalim

 בס״ד

Mishpatim/Shekalim

Servants and slaves, and masters who strike,

Kidnapping, cursing, and dangerous fights.

Innocent oxen, and uncovered pits,

Tunneling burglars, and livestock that kick.

Vessels and fire, thorns and money,

Lenders, and liars, a struggling donkey.

Taunters and witnesses, judges and bribes,

Shmitta and Shabbos, widows and wives.

In all situations, lift up the mundane,

To the level of sacred, and honor His name.

Yisro

 בס״ד

Yisro

i met a man the other night,

who asked if I was an Israelite

he’d seen my tzitzis in plain sight,

on reflection, he should be right.

but only if I choose to hear,

what he truly asks, as he draws near,

“are you of those whose task is clear,

to teach, how Him to love and fear?”

i call myself a simple Jew,

but that’s a title somewhat new,

as Israelites we had a clue,

of the task which we were meant to do.

to hear Him well, and serve as guides,

to all the Peoples, far and wide,

how to serve Him, as implied,

‘round perek nineteen, pasuk five.

Beshalach

 בס״ד

Beshalach

a pillar of cloud, and a pillar of fire

guide us forward, night and day

one a mist, and one a flame

yet, when placed behind us

as if to say: “We have your back”

they join to keep Egypt at bay

a shield of deepest darkness

and a blaze of illuminating light

two incompatible elements

like burning hail, or body and soul

revealed, to be one