Shabbat Shalom! How can we embrace this new cycle given the present uncertainty of the Middle East? Who is the serpent? At Beit Torah we will discuss these topics:

 

Bereishit 5787, Back to the Beginning; Bereishit 1-6:8; Isaiah 42:5 – 43:10

 

Bereishit – In the Beginning

 

Much like stories other nations did tell:

Creation, gardens... we have one as well,

BUT ours praising G!d, no human heroes...

Breishit tells Ancestors' gains and zeroes!

 

Six epochs of time the Creation took.

After each one, HaShem took a good look.

Deciding that all what was seen was good…

For the seventh time frame: rest as one should…

 

Now in the sixth epoch, G!d and critters planned man

In their image with bodies’ needs and moral stands

To be the guard of ecological good stance

With all critters vegan until later, by chance,

Carnivores and omnivores arose in the lands…

Now, unlike critters, G!d gave breath of life to man…

 

Then man who was made, in a lush garden was placed.

Eden it was called, we’ve a location not traced.

To not be lonely, for him a helpmate was made

From his [stem cells?] body’s rib for a gal to grow:

Pluripotent cells make a female embryo...

The only rule: from the knowledge tree, must not eat!

 

Serpent was wily, enticed the gullible maid

To eat the fruit of the forbidden tree -

So when HaShem came a looking, what was to see?

Both children had eaten the fruit and were hid

As they knew they were naked and no longer kids…

[Did those children become computer literates?]

HaShem was wroth, a price was to be paid:

So the Serpent on belly crawled then on

And People were expelled from garden fronds…

 

Adam’s and Eve’s genealogy line:

Cain and Abel, their first two sons, they fought.

Cain killed Abel, then by HaShem was caught -

 

Now then other siblings were born in time,

Left to procreate inventive offspring

Which brother Seth and other sibs did bring

In Cain's line's through Lamech's children, their works;

Seth's through Noach, for whom danger lurks…

 

Mixed with Nephilim, half- E. T.’s,

The population grew less and less fine.

Reminding us now of our present times?

Cruelty, hatred, bigotry was seen;

Wickedness and perversions did abound -

But Hashem viewed Noach with favor found...

 

Haftorah in Sephardic tradition Isaiah 42:5-21:

​

Isaiah spoke before the Israelite Folk.

Sternly he told them with pride: the Creator of all

Has opened your eyes and rescued you when needed,

When you fell into wayward ways and evil stoked...

Creator's never shadowed by idols' pall

Whereas promised outcomes always held true to be

Ever as described. So Glory be! All should see

That Praise to G!d from all places must be repeated

By every creature in all corners of Earth;

Proclaim G!d's silent protection, for all their worth,

Keeping them from evil darkness, idolatry -

Helping the deaf to listen and the blind to see,

To understand HaShem's teaching all must embrace,

Glorify, magnify, light all corners, each place!

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Shabbat Shalom! Can we avoid ever increasing chaos given our abuses of this planet's resources and each other? At Beit Torah we will discuss if and how we can do just that:

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Noach 5787 Chaos; Bereishit 6:9-11:32; usually Isaiah 54:1-10 [Sephard] 54:1-55:5 [Ashkenaz]

 

Noach was quite kind, honest, and fair.

He had three sons for whom to take care,

Each son with a wife, plus Noach's wife,

Totalled eight souls to protect in life.

Still in a world so lawless and vile,

As flesh corrupted the earth meanwhile,

‘Twas hard to be cautious all the while…

 

So HaShem chose to start once again

By bringing on a flood with much rain.

Yet before ‘twas done, Noach was told

A three deck ark to build with roof hatch

For Folk and critters and food to hold,

Including family and his catch

Of two couples each impure hoard

Of seven couples of those ones pure,

(Pure birds needed to keep seed alive,

Replenish all and the Land help thrive...)

And food enough to feed all aboard…

 

Then seven days later came rain tour

Continuous for forty long days…

For one hundred fifty full days more

Only water afar could be seen.

Then for forty days water recedes

Until Noach sent out a raven

That ate carrion but then came back

As did the dove sent also to look

For a place to roost along her track…

Seven more days once more dove sent out,

Returned with an olive leaf sprout!

Seven days more, dove sent out again

Not to return as rest spot was gained.

 

Fifty-six days more, all left the ark.

Six hundred years old, no falter,

Noach built a sacrifice altar

In gratitude to HaShem and Hark!

HaShem promised him “never again”

With a covenant of no blood to eat,

No murder allowed, a Rainbow Brit!

So now the People can eat dead meat

But raw, live flesh is never a treat!

 

Now we know not how widespread was the flood

Nor what caused the rains, high waters and mud;

Nor which version of ark contents is true.

Perhaps both are with valid truths embued...

 

Noach was farming vineyards and land.

In drunken sleep naked found by Ham.

With blanket his brothers covered Dad

Walking backwards so as not to see…

Then Noach at Ham was quite so mad

That he his youngest son rebuked quite hard…

 

Yet all in re-population starred

Ham [Canaan's, Sodom's, Gomorrah's Dad];

Japheth [Magog]; Shem [Elam, and more]

[Many more offspring whose names were bad

Or forgotten or lost evermore…]

As numbers grew, they spread to the East.

They spread to islands, lands and cities,

Mountains, forests, beaches, and high seas…

 

With all one language, arrogance came,

So they thought to build high to their fame

A tower on which would rest their name.

If left to succeed then thought HaShem:

Any goal they would have, they could do…

HaShem with others made speech garbled,

[Why?] Communications confounded…

The tower fell amidst the babble,

The dispersion of Folk compounded...

 

Shem’s line led to Nachor, then Terach,

Dad of Avram, Haran, and Nachor.

In Ur they lived until Haran died

[In the Elamite invading war?].

So Terach took Avram, Sarai, and Lot

Away West to Chauran where they stopped

Although en route to a Canaan spot.

Lot, son of Haran, was as a son

To “an exalted Dad”, Avram, won!

Together they’ll flee moon worship lands

For trips to Egypt and Canaan sands…

 

my favorite: Noach’s Journey

 

Afloat on a boat on waves unending -

How do forty days adrift passing feel?

A galley so large for to feed the crew

and varied critters to protect their weal…

Wind howling, G-d scowling with barf bags near…

Was there faith with trust – or perhaps just fear?

 

I think I would prefer a space ark rather than the sea

With cryogenic chambers of the critters yet to be.

Concentrated food and drink packs to feed those not asleep

As we all wait out the storms for the waters to recede…

 

Haftorah:

 

Isaiah saw Yisrael as barren

Yet with a promise for numbers to show,

Hence needing a larger tent for cover

Richly adorned with no disgrace to know:

Materialism instead of Mitzvot

Will cause the Nation to fail and not grow.

 

Isaiah told Yisrael to have trust:

Do not fear failure for have faith you must

That G!d will back you up, be there for you;

That your numbers will grow to be greater

Than the nations yet to be dispossessed,

To be over-run by you then later,

Without embarrassment for you are loved

By HaShem who promised you no rebuke,

No more Mabuls – rather everlasting

Loyalty and friendship – Not just a fluke!

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Shabbat Shalom! What can we do with the upcoming elections? At Beit Torah we will discuss our views on how to go forward encouraging voters to vote:

 

Lech Lecha 5787 On the Road; Bereishit 12:1-17:27; Isaiah 40:27-41:16

​

As was the intent of Terach to go to Canaan,

So now Avram, Sarai, and Lot decide to move on.

With wealth gathered in earlier days, they left Chauran...

 

At seventy-five years old, Avram with stealth,

With strong encouragement from HaShem, he gathered wealth.

With HaShem’s promise of much offspring to take the Land.

From near to Shechem and Moreh’s terebinth trees,

By way of western Beth-El and Ai in the east,

They travelled bit by bit in Canaan, Negba south,

With famine following as they travelled on the sand

Until they had no choice but to go to Egypt’s house

Despite repeat promise of offspring lives in the Land...

 

Now Sarai was of such beauty, she knew she had to plot

A way to save Avram from Pharaoh’s lust, ever hot.

So with both together, a sister ploy plan was got!

A former Priestess would know how to taint water’s source

To make all in Harem infertile or ill, of course!

So with Sarai in harem, Pharaoh’s household, the lot,

Made ill … Per commenters, Lot revealed Sarai as wife!

So Pharaoh banished them with extra wealth and no strife…

Torah reads it was Avram’s plan; Jodephus: BOTH sought life!

 

The Negev was too crowded for both Avram’s and Lot’s

Considerable collected servants, wealth, and flocks.

Since by the Jordan was a well watered, fertile plain

Of Sodom and Gomorrah before destruction came,

Hence Lot: east to Zoar; Avram in Canaan did stay,

Praising HaShem in Hevron at an altar he prayed…

Being blessed again with many offspring, Promised Land

To be their forever home, by their numbers made grand.

 

Around where Lot settled there were five Kings in control.

Four other Kings invaded. All people and wealth they stole.

An escapee told Avram who with men rescued all

Including Lot and his possessions, but took no gain

North of Damascus where the lost four to Hobah came...

Avram only asked that his men get their full booty share….

The Salem king blessed Avram for his courage and name -

In helping Amalekites’ and Amorites’ fall…

 

HaShem blessed Avram with Land and offspring twice again,

But warned of their long servitude in a foreign fare…

 

Sarai had no child. Hagar, her surrogate became.

Sarai was harsh with uppity Hagar who then fled

To be returned after promised her son’s future fame:

Ishmael, Father of twelve nations, the Holy said.

 

In gratitude, Hagar praised El Roi, G!d of Seeing…

Only she NAMED G!d, unlike other Torah beings!

 

Avram with Sarai promised: parent many nations

If the covenant of circumcision they maintained,

To be parents of twelve Chieftains with Land to be claimed.

Hence Avram circumcised all his household, self, and son

So that male offspring with Sarai then still could be won

With Avraham's ninety-nine, he and Sarah just laughed.

Yitzchak would be their son's name. He'ld follow their craft.

So with their names new, just now changed: Sarah's and Avraham's

Lives were newly arranged to meet their future stations...

 

Haftorah:

​

While crafts folk take great pride in their own work that excels,

It is nowhere near as perfect as HaShem's glories:

The One who strengthens the Faithful, shame oppressors well,

At times with long stories about how far down they fell...

 

So the lowly, imperfect of Israel should not fear

When all try to embrace mitzvot – with faith they don’t veer…

Even as young eagles grow new plumage as they age,

The Israelites will grow more trusting of HaShem’s sage.

 

To always help and redeem you, HaShem will be near.

Hence you'll rejoice as Glories of HaShem become clear.

The Young need learn to follow, embracing wisdom’s way

That Yisrael is blessed, their eyes no longer tear...

That Israel is chosen and should no longer fear

For HaShem guides the Chosen trusting G!d all their days…

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Shabbat Shalom! Will artificial respiration save the day?

​

VaYera 5787 Does it all really work out okay?; Bereishit 18:1-22:24; II Kings 4:1-37

 

Delirious, circumcised Avraham did rest

Near the terebinths of Mamre, some Hevron trees,

Seeing HaShem come to speak with him and him test:

Came three strangers to Avraham in the day’s heat,

Messengers from HaShem come for Bikur Cholim

And to tell of what was yet to come, it seems.

 

Now hospitality reigns over pains of brit

With water, bread, milk, curds, and roasted meat complete.

The strangers ate all, did not pretend to do so.

[Avraham would have noticed a fake. He would know.]

Plus milk served with meat did not violate a thing

Of not COOKING in it's Mother's milk her offspring!

 

Sarah would bear a son in a year it was said.

She heard and laughed in joy – at her age to be bred!

[Last week's read: Avraham reacted the same way.

He laughed to think he'd father Sarah's son some day!]

 

Now HaSem spoke directly with Sarah, you know,

When laugh denied that in her a babe would grow!

G!d scolded her that, indeed, such laugh she did show!

 

[Whom did G!d ask if with Avraham he should speak

On destroying Sodom and Gomorrah that week?

About checking out their reported evil ways?]

 

[Did a messenger telepathically speak,

A Bluetooth of sorts for remote words of HaShem

Who agonized over what to say to the choice

Of a man who would teach Divine Laws' and Rules' voice?

Or did all messengers have remote guiding folk

To discuss their clear warnings, the strong and the weak?]

 

Two messengers sent to see if Lot should not stay

Were met by vicious folk... Lot welcomed them at night,

Tried to appease the mob, was saved by blinding light...

 

[Was the third messenger really G!d in disguise?

One left for Abraham with HaShem to discuss

The innocents who by razing might lose their lives?]

Despite Blessings, Avraham had to learn the fuss:

Plains of Sodom and Gomorrah to be wiped out

‘Twas told. Avraham bargained with HaShem – so bold!

Yet ten righteous men in those plains weren’t found about.

So HaShem prevailed to destroy those plains, their holds,

With brimstone cremating Lot’s wife after they fled

With their two daughters to Zoar, messenger led…

 

Still Zoar was not quiet, might yet be destroyed…

Therefor Lot and his daughters were more than annoyed…

They went up the hills to a cave, food and wine stocked.

With no others near them, the girls feared they were locked

Into celibacy in a new world without men.

So they plied Lot with wine until pregnant with sons:

Moab and Ben-Ammi, who then later become

Moabites and Ammonites. For Folk, erstwhile friends.

 

In Gerar the sister-wife ploy was used once more.

Where Avraham claimed they are paternal sibs married;

So he would call her sister, he thought, when harried...

[Did Sarah herbal taint the water supply store?]

With an infertile household, Abimelech King

Heard from HaShem of the plot in a vivid dream.

He paid Avraham his household health to restore

Since the dream said A had Prophet magic galore!

[Prophet being a spokesman of divine calling

So he'd teach others with no stumble nor falling!]

 

Sarah bore her son, Yitzchak, in less than a year -

With an eighth day Brit and upon weaning, feast…

Ishmael could inherit, not her son, she feared.

So she expelled him and his mom - yet not deceased...

Then to stop inheritance rights, Hagar was freed

While promised many nations her son would lead!

 

Avraham, Abimelech got along indeed.

So when there was a well dispute’s settlement need,

King Abimelech said Avraham dug that well

After a seven ewe gift the King did receive

To prove Avraham really did dig that well.

So a marker was planted, a tamarisk tree…

 

Now perhaps most perplexing during Yitzchak’s youth

Was Avraham’s taking him and wood up to pray

On a mountain with an altar but no goose,

Saying to servants they both would return post prayer,

Yet at that time, son Yitzchak’s return was not there!

 

Was Yitzchak rebellious? To be shown the way,

Avraham bound him on altar as if to say

Our HaShem will save you yet on this very day!

Lo! A ram tangled or tied in brambles was seen

[Had Avraham had it placed there, tied at the scene?],

Then ‘twas used for sacrifice. Yitzchak got off clean

With respect for HaShem reinforced in his mind,

Yitzchak, in shock, left alone, his own path to find…

Some say he fled to his great by five Grandpa's home,

A school for the Noahide ethics to receive

For comfort and study, his lost youth to bemoan...

 

Some say that when Avraham stayed his hand that day.

He heeded HaShem and his son, Yitzchak, did not slay.

HaShem spoke to him and promised offsprings’ rewards:

They’ld seize foes’ gates, be honored by all nations’ stands

If they would follow HaShem’s path and stayed their hands…

 

Lastly the family line of Nahor is told

Listing Rifka and other cousins in the fold…

 

Haftorah:

​

To Elisha, a widow her woes cried out:

In debt; destitute; facing slavery too…

So he said: gather vessels from all about

Which he caused to be filled with oil, brand new,

‘Til there was enough for all debts to be paid

And to live comfortably all of their days…

A Shunnamite gave Elisha a place to rest

And a room while bemoaning not having a son.

As promised by Elisha, next year she bore one

Who as a child did play in the hot fields and yet

Was stricken with heat exhaustion and seemed quite dead.

The Shunnamite hurried to Elisha in deep grief.

He quickly returned with her for the child to tend,

Reviving him mouth-to-mouth, body warmth to mend…

The child sneezed seven times to his mother’s relief!

 

Notes: 1- When Lot split from Avraham it was said he went towards Zoar however in this Parasha is when Zoar got its name!!!

2- As per earlier in Torah: The Dead Sea was formed [during the destruction of the Plains of Sodom and Gomorrah] from the Valley of Sidim.

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