As my son was driving down the pike
a driver cursed him, “You dirty kike”
My son turned slowly and waved goodbye
calling out proudly, ‘Am Yisroel Chai!’ *
__________________________________
*In English: "The People Israel Live!"
Twice a day
a Jew must say
‘Shema Yisroel’ – ‘Hear, O Israel
The Lord, our God, the Lord is One’ *
Early morning, late in the eve
twice a day, no reprieve
‘The Lord, our God, the Lord is One’
How early can he say it -
the faithful do not want to delay it -
When he can recognize his friend from up close
is the earliest he can say it…
In order to recognize the Creator
recognizing our friends is the initiator
Profound is this connection ~
In every face is God’s reflection
_____________________________________
*'Shema Yisroel' are the first two words of a
248-word prayer recognizing the authority of
the Kingdom of Heaven. It is said first thing
in the morning and last thing at night, 365
days a year.
To the hell of Theresienstadt transported
all hope for freedom aborted
Rabbi Shmuel Goldin understood what awaited
a life of forced labor now fated
Led into his barracks, which Jews shared with rats
Reb Shmuel sat on his bed, removing his hat
When what caught his eye, but a makeshift sign
which strengthened his faith in his people divine
For on a hidden door as he sat on his bed
these words Shmuel read and reread:
'This is none other than the House of G-d
and this, the Gateway to Heaven.' (Genesis 28:17)
"Surely," he cried, "no Jew may despair
as long as he breathes G-d's holy air.
________________________________________
Based on a story heard from Rabbi Dr. Jonathan
Schwartz, the Rabbi of Congregation Adath Yisroel,
Elizabeth, NJ, youtube.com, 'Unity' - Not Agree-
ment, Parshas Vayetze, Nov. 23, 2023.
Sentenced to jail for running a multi-million dollar donation fraud
Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein, feigning piety, abused congregants' trust in God
I'll rely on Mark Twain, whose wise words I now choose
As he pithily said, "Never judge Judaism by the Jews."
Not to Show Off One's Learning
(?? ???? ???? ???????)
Instead Self Effacing, B'Tz'nyus,
Otherwise, Imbibe Drink of Ego,
Schnapps in Shrinking Hollowness,
Rather Honor Your Fellow,
Not Me! Nor Mine! but Togetherness,
Elevate Your Jewish 'Bro,
B'Nai Yisroel Cholent Finesse!
Refrain from Preemie Torah,
Too Much, Too Early, Infatuation,
Better Nurture & Ripen in Aura,
Even Rav Chaim of Volozhin,
Was Refused by the Gra,
For Yetzer HaRah was in Suspicion,
'Til a Year of Reflection in Awe,
Passed, Then Yes! from the Vilna Goan!
The sun beams down
on the verdant earth
(I guess I am not a particularly good Jew, Christian or Buddhist
The sun streams down on the verdant earth
The city warms up
The sun streams down on the verdant earth
A cup of tea
lets my heart beat again
One must battle with one's demons
As they threaten to overwhelm one
I await an article from a collectibles magazine
which I have written for
Capitalism has its faults - obviously
but I suppose it is better than socialism
which I experienced at a religious kibbutz not long ago
in Eretz Yisroel not long ago
I kind of liked it....
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