iPad Apps In Haiku: iT’filah

December 5, 2011 in Mishkan T'filah iPad App by Ed | No comments

 

Hey, iPad owners!
You like Mishkan T’filah?
There’s an app for that.

Just in time for the 2011 URJ Biennial, CCAR Press has released a new app for your iPad.   From the AppStore listing:

Mishkan T’filah is the siddur used by congregations throughout the world. Now you can carry Mishkan T’filah with you on your iPad and interact with the prayers in the siddur as never before. The Mishkan T’filah – iT’filah App is designed to be used in services alongside the print version and as the perfect companion for quiet spiritual reflection or study. This prayer book app is versatile and engaging.

Like the print version of Mishkan T’filah, the prayers in iT’filah are fully transliterated, and are accompanied by many inspiring readings and commentary. Move between prayers and explore additional content with the swipe of a finger. Tap to hear many of the prayers chanted or read aloud.

This first version of iT’filah contains the Erev Shabbat (Friday Night) Service, with accompanying page numbers corresponding to the print editions of Mishkan T’filah. Future releases will include even more content, such as Shabbat (Saturday) Morning and home blessings, and will be also be available on the iPhone and iPod.

 

Vayeitzei

December 2, 2011 in 5772, Dreams, Genesis / Bereshit, Jacob by Ed | No comments


Rocks for a pillow
Jacob dreams of a ladder
Angels up and down

 

A revelation
“G-d is truly in this place
But I did not know”

 

 

Toldot

November 23, 2011 in 5772, Abraham, Genesis / Bereshit, Isaac, Rebecca, Sarah by Ed | No comments

 

Just like his father
Isaac says, about his wife
“She is my sister”

Such duplicity.
If they have great faith in G-d
What have they to fear?

How can we explain
Such actions from our “Avot”?
Well … they’re just human

 

I’ve quoted below the Torah verses that tell of these deceptions. You might also want to click here for an interesting article by Rabbi Dan Judson on the My Jewish Learning website that suggests we view these three stories in the context of a literary approach to understanding Torah.

Gen 12:11-13    As they approached Egypt, [Avram] said to his wife Sarai, ‘I realize that you are a good-looking woman.  When the Egyptians see you, they will assume that you are my wife and kill me, allowing you to live. If you would, say that you are my sister. They will then be good to me for your sake, and through your efforts, my life will be spared.’

Gen 20:1-2   Abraham migrated from there to the land of the Negev, and he settled between Kadesh and Shur. He would often visit Gerar. [There] he announced that his wife Sarah was his sister, and Abimelekh, king of Gerar, sent messengers and took Sarah.

Gen 26:6-7   Isaac thus settled in Gerar. When the local men asked about his wife, he told them that she was his sister. He was afraid to say that she was his wife. Rebecca was so good-looking that the local men could have killed him because of her.

Chayei Sarah

November 18, 2011 in 5772, Abraham, Genesis / Bereshit, Isaac, Rebecca, Sarah by Ed | No comments

Yitzchak’s wife Rivkah
Literally the answer
To a servant’s prayers

 

Asked:
24:12, 14 ‘O God, Lord of my master Abraham: Be with me today, and grant a favor to my master Abraham … If I say to a girl, ‘Tip over your jug and let me have a drink,’ and she replies, ‘Drink, and I will also water your camels,’ she will be the one whom You have designated for Your servant Isaac.”

And answered:
24:19 When he had finished drinking, she said, ‘Let me draw water for your camels, so they can [also] drink their fill.’

Vayeira

November 10, 2011 in 5772, Abraham, Genesis / Bereshit, Isaac, Sarah by Ed | No comments

... and Sarah laughed ...

 

Abraham is told
Sarah’s gonna have a son
She just has to laugh

When the boy is born
He’s given the name Yitzchak
Which means “he will laugh“

Lech L’cha

November 4, 2011 in 5772, Abraham, Genesis / Bereshit, Sarah by Ed | No comments

As the parsha ends
G-d tells Avram names will change
For the first two Jews

Adding one letter
Avram becomes Abraham
Sarai’s now Sarah

The letter? It’s “hey”
Represents the name of G-d
Marks the covenant

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

 

 

Yom Kippur

October 7, 2011 in 5772, Purim, Yom Kippur by Ed | No comments


Yom Hakipurim
Literally – “like Purim”
But how can that be?

 

Yom Kippur – solemn
Purim – quite the opposite
A raucous yom tov

 

Mirror images
One holiday physical
One spiritual

 

How are they alike?
Each provides a unique way
To think about G-d

 

My thoughts this week are based on several Purim articles I found while searching the web this week for “Yom Kippur” and “Yom Hakipurim”. Click on the links to learn more about the connections between Yom Kippur and Purim from Wilshire Boulevard Temple, Aish, and Chabad.

May you have an easy fast, and a spiritual Yom Kippur.

 

Ha’azinu / Shabbat Shuva

September 30, 2011 in 5772, Deuteronomy / Devarim by Ed | No comments


The New Year begins
A special Shabbat – Shuva
It’s time to return


This week’s haftarah
Starts with words from Hosea*
“Shuva, Yisrael”


* The prophetic reading for Shabbat Shuva begins with Hosea 14:2 “Return, O Israel, to Adonai your G-d, for you have fallen because of your sin.”

 

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