5772

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Mishpatim

February 17, 2012 in 5772, Exodus / Shemot by Ed | No comments

The Courtyard of the Arches at the Israeli Supreme Court. The narrow channel of water was inspired by a verse from Psalms: "Truth will spring up from the earth and justice will be reflected from the heavens"(85:12)

 

Commanded this week:
Best policy? Honesty.
Don’t pervert justice

 

Exodus 23:1-7
Do not accept a false report. Do not join forces with a wicked person to be a corrupt witness. Do not follow the majority to do evil. Do not speak up in a trial to pervert justice. A case must be decided on the basis of the majority. Do not favor [even] the poorest man in his lawsuit. If you come across your enemy’s ox or donkey going astray, bring it back to him. If you see the donkey of someone you hate lying under its load, you might want to refrain from helping him, but [instead] you must make every effort to help him [unload it]. Do not pervert justice for your degraded countryman in his lawsuit. Keep away from anything false.

Yitro

February 10, 2012 in 5772, Exodus / Shemot, Ten Commandments by Ed | No comments

First four commandments
Focus on relationships
Between man* and G-d

Numbers six through ten
Focus on relationships
Between man* and man*

The fifth commandment
Says we should honor parents
They are G-d’s partners

 

From the URJ Torah Commentary (Revised Edition) … “Jewish tradition has underscored the importance of one’s duty to honor father and mother by listing it among the commandments on the first tablet. It is thus seen as concluding the catalog of basic obligations to G-d. Parents are G-d’s representatives and partners in rearing of their children; and children who fail to respect this special position are offending against G-d as well.” (pg 495)

*Poetic license … “man” refers to humans of all genders

Beshalach

February 3, 2012 in 5772, Exodus / Shemot, Nachshon by Ed | No comments

 

We stood at the sea
Until the waters parted
Midrash tells us why

The first to step in
Nachshon Ben Aminadav
Then G-d split the sea

Nachshon’s leap of faith
Showed the courage leaders need
Going first is hard

 

 

Bo

January 26, 2012 in 5772, Exodus / Shemot, Pesach by Ed | No comments

The Obama’s dog?
No, it’s not that “Bo” my friend
We’re talking Torah!

In this week’s portion
Pesach observance described
A law for all time

Kids are gonna ask
What’s this seder mean to you?
You must answer them

 

Exodus 12:26-27
Your children may ask you, ‘What is this service to you?’ You must answer, ‘It is the Passover service to God. He passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians, sparing our homes.‘

———

Will you be ready
When it’s time for the seder?
You should try haiku!

Click here to check out The Haggadah In Haiku
You can even get it in full color on your iPhone or iPad!

Va-eira

January 20, 2012 in 5772, Exodus / Shemot, Moses, Pharoah by Ed | No comments

A plague in Egypt
Pharoah says, “Okay Moses
Your people can go”

The plague is lifted
Pharoah says, “I’ve changed my mind”
Then, another plague

Will Pharoah wise up?
Or continue flip-flopping?
We’ll find out next week

Shemot

January 12, 2012 in 5772, Exodus / Shemot, Moses, Pharoah by Ed | No comments

The bush is burning
But is not being consumed
A sign for Moses


G-d says, “Hi, it’s Me
I’m gonna rescue the Jews
They’ve suffered enough


Go tell old Pharoah
I’ve got a message for him
Let my people go”


Va-Y’chi

January 6, 2012 in 5772, Genesis / Bereshit, Jacob, Joseph by Ed | No comments

Joseph’s brothers lie
Telling him that their father
Had some final words

“Forgive your brothers”
Is what they claim Jacob said
Just before he died

That’s not in Torah
So, is such a lie ok
In the quest for peace?

 

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, the Chief Rabbi of Great Britain, addresses this question in his essay “The White Lie“

Vayigash

January 1, 2012 in 5772, Genesis / Bereshit, Joseph by Ed | No comments

Pharaoh’s man tells them:
“I am Joseph your brother”
Jake’s boys are speechless

 

Israel In Haiku: It’s Over Already?

January 1, 2012 in 5772, Israel, Temple Chai Israel Trip 2011 by Ed | No comments

It seems long ago
That our adventure began
But it ends too soon

Wednesday morning was the last day we would wake up in Israel. After breakfast we went to Tzvat (or Safed, or Zefat). After a visit to a Sefardic synagogue, where we heard some of the history of Kabbalah, it was time for some final shopping at the wonderful shops in the artists’ colony.

Then, as if to help us adjust for our impending return to America, we stopped for lunch at a shopping mall  …

Our final stop before a farewell dinner in Tel Aviv was the ancient Roman city of Caesaria.

Wednesday became Thursday … our flight left after 1AM Thursday Israel time, we arrived in Newark at 6AM EST and stepped off the plane at O’Hare just before noon Chicago time.

 

There is just one word
To describe this twelve day trip
Unforgettable

 

Remember to check the Temple Chai Israel Journey blog for more about this wonderful adventure.

Israel In Haiku: From Dead Sea to Golan Heights

December 27, 2011 in 5772, Israel, Temple Chai Israel Trip 2011 by Ed | No comments

First thing this morning
We’re floating in the Dead Sea
Lowest place on earth

Then a long bus ride
Golan Heights IDF Base
Kibbutz Maagan

 

On Tuesday we woke early so that we could float in the Dead Sea. After breakfast and waiting for the buses to be loaded with our luggage, we began the long bus ride north into the Golan Heights.

We visited an IDF base, where we gave gifts of Chicago sports gear to the men and women who bravely protect Israel. Then it was on to a former Lebanese outpost, where we saw how vulnerable Israeli villages were when Golan was part of Lebanon before the Six Day War in 1967.

Finally, we settled into Kibbutz Maagan for the last night of Chanukah, and our last night sleeping in Israel. As the day ends on Wednesday we’ll be boarding our ElAl flight for the long trip back to Chicago.

Be sure to check the latest entries from other trip participants at the Temple Chai Israel Journey blog.

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