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

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!

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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

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”

The Tabernacle
Built just as was commanded
G-d’s glory fills it

Our portion begins
With the Shabbat commandment
Then, building begins

Mishkan construction
Supervised by Betzalel
And Oholiab

They work for six days
But even building G-d’s place
They pause for Shabbat

Moses asks of G-d:
Since I’ve found favor with You
Show me Your Glory

G-d says “no can do”
Man shall not see Me and live
I can’t show My face

The cleft of the rock
Is where you’ll stand as I pass
Covered by My hand

This will protect you.
And when I remove My hand
You will see My back

Based on Exodus 33:18-23

Some strange rituals
For the priests’ consecration
Described in detail

The special vestments
Animal sacrifices
It takes seven days

When it’s time to give
Look to your heart for guidance
Then do the right thing

Exodus 25:2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and have them take for Me an offering; from every person whose heart inspires him to generosity, you shall take My offering.”

Lots of laws this week
One of them* might speak to us
About abortion

It seems the Torah
Is telling us a fetus
Is not a person

When a person’s killed
The punishment is made clear
A life for a life

But for miscarriage
Monetary penalty
Is all that’s called for

It’s a hard question
Abortion’s not always “right”
But there’s a lesson

Primary concern
Is for the pregnant woman
Life begins at birth

Exodus 21:22 “[This is the law] when two men fight and [accidentally] harm a pregnant woman, causing her to miscarry. If there is no fatal injury [to the woman], then [the guilty party] must pay a [monetary] penalty. The woman’s husband must sue for it, and [the amount] is then determined by the courts.”