Genesis / Bereshit

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Noach

October 27, 2011 in 5772, Genesis / Bereshit by Ed | No comments

 

The flood waters dry
A covenant established
Between G-d and earth

 

The rainbow’s a sign
But is it to remind man
Or to remind G-d?

 

Genesis 9:13-15

“I have placed My rainbow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth, the rainbow will be seen among the clouds. I will then recall the covenant that exists between Me, you and every living soul in all flesh.”

 

Bereshit

October 20, 2011 in 5772, Genesis / Bereshit by Ed | No comments

It was paradise
Just one tree was forbidden
But then … temptation

 

The fruit was tasty
Knowledge of good and evil
Our eyes were opened

 

Was it a bad thing?
I certainly don’t think so.
It made us human

 

 

Va-Y’chi

December 16, 2010 in 5771, Genesis / Bereshit, Jacob by Ed | No comments


Jacob “blesses” sons
Predicts future of each tribe
Just before he dies

His sons bury him
In the Cave of Machpelah
As he requested

——-

With this week’s portion
We finish Torah’s first book
And we say, “Chazak“


Vayigash

December 10, 2010 in 5771, Genesis / Bereshit, Jacob, Joseph, Pharoah by Ed | No comments


Jacob’s family
Seventy people in all
Settled in Goshen

Joseph and father
Reunited in Egypt
Pharaoh welcomed them


Mikeitz

December 2, 2010 in 5771, Dreams, Genesis / Bereshit, Joseph, Pharoah by Ed | No comments


Pharaoh has a dream
Cows and grain, both strong and weak
Meaning eldues him

Joseph gets the call
He seems to be an expert
Dream interpreter

So he tells Pharoah
“Dream foretells feast and famine”
It’s what G-d will do


Vayeishev

November 24, 2010 in 5771, Genesis / Bereshit, Jacob, Joseph by Ed | No comments


Joseph tells his dreams
Wheat, the sun, the moon and stars
Bowing down to him

Brothers not big fans
Even father shows concern
For his favored son

Jacob asks Joseph
“What kind of dream did you have?”
But withholds judgment


Vayishlach

November 16, 2010 in 5771, Dinah, Genesis / Bereshit, Jacob, Levi, Simeon by Ed | No comments


Dinah is defiled
Her father remains silent
Brothers seek revenge

Jacob gets angry
With Simeon and Levi
Shechem? Not so much.


Vayeitzei

November 9, 2010 in 5771, Asher, Benjamin, Bilhah, Dan, Dinah, Gad, Genesis / Bereshit, Issachar, Jacob, Joseph, Judah, Leah, Levi, Naphtali, Rachel, Simeon, Zebulun, Zilpah by Ed | No comments


Jacob had twelve sons
Six were children of Leah
Rachel had just two

Bilhah and Zilpah
Servants of the two sisters
Gave birth to two each

Reuben, Simeon
Levi, Judah, Issachar
Zebulun (Leah’s)

Bilhah’s first was Dan
Her second son Naphtali
Joseph’s fifth and sixth

Leah’s maid Zilpah
Mother of Gad and Asher
The seventh and eighth

And Rachel’s children?
Joseph, Jacob’s fav’rite son
And young Benjamin

Twelve boys, one sister
Leah’s daughter, named Dinah
More ’bout her next week


Toldot

November 2, 2010 in 5771, Genesis / Bereshit, Isaac by Ed | No comments


The names of three wells
Tell about Isaac’s journey
So, what do they mean?

First one is “Esek”
Because Isaac was “challenged”
By local shepherds

Second called “Sitnah”
The shepherds still complaining
As “enmity” grew

At last, “Rechovot”
“Wide spaces” are now Isaac’s
No disputes arise

There’s a lesson here:
The path’s not always easy
Struggles on the way

If you persevere
You may get what you’re seeking
Just as Isaac did


Inspiration for this week’s haiku came from a blog post by Rabbi Brant Rosen of Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation in Evanston IL


Vayeira

October 19, 2010 in 5771, Abraham, Genesis / Bereshit, Sodom by Ed | No comments


Abraham argues
For innocents in Sodom
G-d: “If there are ten”*

But none can be found
And the city is destroyed
Only Lot is saved


*Gen 18:32 – “Let my Lord not become angry, but I will speak just once more.  Suppose ten are found there?”;  ”I  will not destroy for the sake of the ten.”


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