The Poem. The ParSHA. The Podcast.

“Mine, said the stone, mine is the hour. I crush the scissors, such as my power, stronger than wish is my power, alone”

While Kalev displays great faith and strength, the other spies surely do not. How do we come people who are confident and ready to take on the world?

A fitting poem to place beside our Parsha which tells the tale of the complaining People Israel. We’re talking about the ebon flow of relationships, and the tension of being intensely connected to the natural traveling away that happens.

Ruth leaves her home to join Naomi in a foreign land. There she gleans in the field to provide sustenance for herself and Naomi. She appreciates that Boaz notices her, even though she is a foreigner. Join us and listen to this Shavuot podcast.

To say that this week’s podcast is going to take us on a journey would be an understatement. Join us as we go bravely into the desert and into this remarkable poem - it will move you.

This week’s poet, Tracy K. Smith. How do we understand the idea of the good life? We are promised as a People that if we observe the commandments, we will have a good life. Take a listen…

Bread, plays a starring role in the holy tabernacle and on each of our tables. In this weeks, Torah portion, we learn again about the table that holds the 12 loaves of bread.

We are commanded in this weeks Torah portion, to respect our elders, and to give honor to those who are aged. Join us for lively conversation with a poem from William Butler Yeats.

This weeks Torah portions highlight the foibles of gossiping. We place next to it a poem by William E. Stafford, to try to understand the dynamics of the way we interact with each other. Join us.

We explore some of the disequilibrium that this poem evokes. What is it to be a pagan and two then be “redeemed”?

“Notes on Poverty” - poem by Hayden Carruth - placed along side, the verses that describe the humble Mincha, flour offering brought by the poor.

The Parsha begins with the commandment to not cook on Shabbat. Join us, as we take a look at a poem by Michelle Whitstone, “Women are cooking outside over the fire” - translated by the author from the Navajo.

There is such creativity in this weeks, Torah portion. How do we lift up the mundane materials in our world to create a sanctuary?

The people, Israel, I promise that if they will serve the Lord, they will be blessed with bread with water and health. Sounds like paradise.

At the top of this weeks, Torah portion we have the arrival of Yitro Moshe’s father-in-law - one particularly enigmatic word is used in the narrative, and boy does it take us to a number of different directions!

Not a simple moment standing on the precipice of the Red Sea. Are we ready to cross over?

“Family” we take our family with us as we celebrate! Moshe asked pharaoh to allow the Israelites to leave Egypt together with their entire family to celebrate in the desert a holiday for the Lord.

Shimon and Levi receive harsh words about anger. Our poem? “Sapphics Against Anger” - Timothy Steele.

Does Joseph cry more than any other biblical character? In this weeks, Torah portion, the tears come immediately before he reveals himself to his brothers. How can we understand these tears if not to poetry?

Tune in for a deeply hitting poem by William Blake. We attempt to grapple with the human foible - jealousy. What is up with humans created in the divine image, yet so weak when it comes to someone else’s beautiful, technicolor dream coat?!

Why do people in the Torah keep building altars?

The drama. Twins are born that was last week. This week one twin is to marry one sister ends up with the other sister!

Join us as we discuss this week’s Torah portion where Avraham needs to acquire a burial ground for Sarah. Emily Dickinson explores the idea of the unbearable, lightness of being that is Sarah - that is a funeral - that is each of us.

Parshat Noach? Meet Carl Sandburg. His poem, “Languages” speaks to the dispersal of humankind as they seek to unify as one building a tower to reach the sky. What were they thinking!?

Join us as we discuss an episode at the very end of this week’s Torah portion, the fallen angels! Theophile Gautier pens a perplexing poem, “Farewell to Poetry” - “Come, fallen Angel…”

Herman Melville the great American novelist captures the experience of the whale. He also writes a poem almost precisely the words of the profit Jonah. Join us! For this Yom Kippur podcast.

What is this thing we do called repentance? Must really be hard on ourselves? Mary Oliver would like us to be kind. Join us for the poem and in this case the high holidays!

Thunder would follow me all my days, stern reminder and sharp rebuke.

The Resting of the Land. Shabbat Ha’retz. Thinking about Sabbath. Emily Dickinson…

The Torah portion that talks about the resting of the land in the seventh year and in year 50. Emily Dickinson. What does it mean to observe a Sabbath? Her poem? Some keep the sabbath going to church I keep it, staying at home.

ParSHAt Acharei Mot

A poem about onions. Start cooking!

We are still situated in a pandemic. What is illness? What are the deep feelings we have around sickness? In this podcast we talk about the poetry of being ill.

Aaron is carrying the guilt of creating the golden calf. He feels unable to bring down the presence of the Divine. Moshe joins him. How spectacular - the Devine Presence descends upon the Mishkan.

Let’s discuss speaking truth to power. When do we choose not to bow and when do we choose to sit down and have the conversation?

“We Lived Happily During the War” - How do we stand up in this world to help those who are under attack, for no good reason?

In this week’s episode we complete the book of Exodus. We contemplate the cloud. God dwells in the cloud over the Mishkan, the tabernacle. A poem by K Ryan, “Cloud” - join us!

People Israel are waiting. It is to no avail. Thinking Moshe is not returning they give up. A golden calf is fashioned. It is no fun waiting.

Bells and pomegranates. Bells in pomegranate. It is time for Edgar Allan Poe. And maybe a little Leonard Cohen. Anne Sexting anyone?

The people Israel all participate enthusiastically! One of the vessels in this new tabernacle is the table. Let’s talk about table-court? What is a table?

In this episode we take a close look at the issue witches. We look at a soliloquy of Shakespeare from the play Macbeth. Join us!

In this edition we embrace a poem from a Spanish Kabbalist. An exploration of the miraculous mystical quality of revelation.

The Israelites are on the precipice of entering their next big stage. They triumphantly walk out of Egypt mid day. Are they ready? Is there a procedure? OK

George Moses Horton. Meets Moses! Let’s reflect on slavery. It is simply horrific. Let us celebrate our liberty!

What is it about royalty? Thousands of years we have this idea of a king, have a queen. What is it about royalty that we are so enamored with anything that has to do with the crown?

Joseph brings Jacob to meet Pharaoh. The exchange is captivating. Zero asked him about his age. Jacob offers a surprising answer.

Joseph transitions from slave to prisoner to second to pharaoh! Who is Joseph? How do we struggle within ourselves to figure out who we are?

What is the nature of forgetting? Why does the cupbearer forget Joseph? What is memory? Oh how painful it is to forget.

In this episode we explore the idea of being alone through the poetry of Maya Angelou and the episode of Jacob alone in the night. Is it good to be alone?

Let’s talk about stones!