Vayishlach

 בס״ד

Vayishlach

Above Ephrata climbs a mountain road

that Yaakov and his family strode

footsteps ascending from Beit-El

 towards Beit Lechem

where now sleeps Rachel

Timeworn, a mikvah there is found

Shafan* and Shual* yet abound

fringed with fig and almond tree

springing waters, dancing Tzvi*

Past Neve Daniel and Alon Shvut,

Elazar crouching by its foot

Sde Boaz and Rosh Tzurim

like rungs in the ladder of Yaakov’s dream

Yaakov, Yaakov, Yisrael

by both names you bear your tale

along the track that draws you home

to Kiryat Arba, which is Chevron

* Shafan = hyrax, Shual = fox, Tzvi = gazelle