The last of the plagues is the worst The death of the children born first Pharaoh’s heart it is broken God’s decree has been spoken 4 centuries of slavery’s reversed.
Vayera
Moses reveals what God will unveil To Pharaoh with great detail The Nile River, muddy Will turn gross and bloody Then come frogs, lice, flies mange, boils, and hail
Shemot Limerick
A new chapter – we move away from the story of patriarchs and focus on the saga of the Israelites. Joseph’s success at the end of Genesis shifts radically into enslavement. The new Pharoah who “did not know Joseph” is reminiscent of the fickle unpredictability of being a stranger in a strange land. Today’s hero […]
Vayechi Limerick
A new chapter – we move away from the story of patriarchs and focus on the saga of the Israelites. Joseph’s success at the end of Genesis shifts radically into enslavement. The new Pharoah who “did not know Joseph” is reminiscent of the fickle unpredictability of being a stranger in a strange land. Today’s hero […]
Vayigash Limerick
This week we come to the penultimate climax of the Joseph Saga. Having tested his brothers to find out if they have changed over the years – to see, perhaps if they have repented for selling into slavery – he is overcome by emotion. He sends everyone away and reveals his true identity to his […]
Miketz Limerick
Joseph is in Egypt. He has risen to the head of Potiphar’s household, and fallen to the depths of prison. But as this roller coaster ride of a story teaches, those who are in the depths will rise to great heights. His fame as an interpreter of dreams brings him to Pharoah who tells him […]
Vayeshev Limerick
The Joseph story is the longest in the book of Genesis. It truly is the classic tale of resentment, favoritism, divine intervention and the rise and fall….and rise and fall…and rise and fall of a hero. We first meet Joseph as a pampered favorite child who quickly earns the resentment of his brothers. They plot […]
Vayishlach Limerick
Vayishlach tells the story of Jacob preparing to meet his brother, Esau after years of estrangment. The night before the fateful reunion is to take place, Jacob has an encounter with a strange being. They wrestle until dawn at which point the mysterious being – perhaps an angel, perhaps an avatar of Jacob’s own insecurities […]
Vayetzei Limerick
In this week’s torah portion, we learn about Jacob and how he fled from his brother Esau after stealing his birthright and deceiving his father, Isaac. On the way to Haran, he dreams of a ladder reaching to the heavens with angels ascending and descending. Fleeing Esau, Jacob must go To Haran where his fortune […]
Toldot Limerick
Oy! Such a disnfunctional family! Isaac gets blindsided (literally) by his wife and son. Jacob cheats Esau. Esau vows revenge. Rebecca teaches her son to cheat…. No wonder so many Jews become psychiatrists (and patronize them….) While Jacob was cooking a meal Esau returned from the field He said gimme’ some stew Jake said, “Sure, […]