tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29084929741205927182011-07-07T21:11:37.042-07:00Haiku Ben TorahA collection of some Haiku that I write based on the weekly parshot.Yakov Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16760192040118582945noreply@blogger.comBlogger171100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908492974120592718.post-69512809247989388552010-02-26T23:52:00.000-08:002010-02-26T23:52:40.918-08:00TetzavehAaron: First Kohen.
Stones on his breastplate lit up.
To Give God's Answers.
Each stone, a letter.
One per Israelite Tribe.
God's text messages.Yakov Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16760192040118582945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908492974120592718.post-85099398789323544962010-02-26T23:18:00.000-08:002010-02-26T23:18:51.303-08:00TerumahThe Tabernacle:
It's roof made of Tachash skin;
But what's a Tachash?
Many have theories.
Some say it was a dolphin.
I say: Unicorn!Yakov Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16760192040118582945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908492974120592718.post-10261083235284960322010-02-11T15:34:00.001-08:002010-02-11T15:52:35.342-08:00Mishpatim
No meat mixed with milk;
Do not mistreat the stranger.
You were strangers, once.
Fifty-three mitzvot!
God had a whole lot to say,
Moses' hand ached more.
Yitro gave us Awe.
Mishpatim gives us the law;
Now start Earth's tikkun.Yakov Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16760192040118582945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908492974120592718.post-73139827399715480782010-02-06T19:06:00.000-08:002010-02-06T19:06:18.030-08:00YithroYithro came to Moses.
He had some advice to give:
"Learn to Delegate!"
With his son Gershom:
"Because I was a stranger,
In a foreign land."
Elizear came, too.
"Because My God is my Help"
Thus Moses named him.
Then, Ten Commandments,
Like rain with thunder and fire.
The Jews accepted.Yakov Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16760192040118582945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908492974120592718.post-30383529971204120312010-02-05T15:52:00.000-08:002010-02-05T15:52:19.277-08:00BeshallachTrapped before the sea.
Moses split it with his rod.
Before Egypt came.
Pharaoh then caught up.
The ocean flushed him away;
with all his armies.
The Hebrews then fought.
Amalek's armies brought war.
And Moses' arms ached.Yakov Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16760192040118582945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908492974120592718.post-31675508627313292452010-01-20T19:48:00.000-08:002010-01-20T19:48:25.703-08:00BoThe Destroyer looked
for bloody doors and lintels.
Israelites inside.
Egypt's firstborn sons,
from Pharoah's to the Slave girl's,
died for Pharaoh's pride.
What we hold fast to
in our stubborn arrogance
may enslave us too.
Yakov Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16760192040118582945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908492974120592718.post-32732987248162554012010-01-20T19:19:00.000-08:002010-01-20T19:19:24.692-08:00Ve'eiraThe nine deadly plagues
could not soften Pharaoh's heart.
God would not Permit.
Moses and Aaron
showed the strength of God's power
to shake Egypt's strength.Yakov Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16760192040118582945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908492974120592718.post-68563025567935542842010-01-08T17:16:00.000-08:002010-01-08T17:16:48.424-08:00ShemotThe burning bush spoke,
But Moses feared to talk back;
He had a stutter.
He went to Pharoah.
"Let my people go!" he cried!
Pharoah wouldn't hear.
Yakov Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16760192040118582945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908492974120592718.post-26808115477955864262009-12-28T22:19:00.000-08:002009-12-28T22:19:27.635-08:00VayechiJacob was dying.
He told his sons their future,
At Genesis' End.
60 Years Later,
as Joseph neared his own end,
he forsaw the tale:
"I'm about to die;
You'll take my bones to Canaan
In The Exodus".Yakov Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16760192040118582945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908492974120592718.post-6372351123197207762009-12-19T15:22:00.000-08:002009-12-19T15:22:29.645-08:00VayiggashJudah bent down low,
Offered himself as a slave,
He, who sold young Joe.
Brave and with Honor,
Redemption he earned himself,
from he who he'd wrong.
With riches and clothes,
back to Canaan they returned
with news for Jacob.
"Enough" Said Isr'al!"
He did not believe their words
His heart numb with shock.
"My Joseph still lives?
I must go and see my son,
myself ere I die."
From Pharoah, with Yakov Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16760192040118582945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908492974120592718.post-65994880942062700102009-12-11T15:27:00.000-08:002009-12-11T15:27:15.760-08:00Menorah Lighting Tips!Hannukiah's flame:
Always light from left to right,
Newest Candle first!
And always light first
Menorah's before Shabbat.
Rules are rules, you know.
On the window sill,
to show off the miracle,
so your neighbors know.
Then bust out the gelt,
the dreidels and the latkes;
We lived, so let's eat!Yakov Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16760192040118582945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908492974120592718.post-74529617917666229352009-12-11T15:04:00.000-08:002009-12-11T15:04:44.934-08:00Mikkets:Pharoah's dream of cows
Seven fat and seven thin
Kinda freaked him out
He sent for Joseph,
whom the cupbearer recalled;
Took him long enough!Yakov Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16760192040118582945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908492974120592718.post-79257063866336532342009-12-04T00:30:00.000-08:002009-12-04T00:30:27.575-08:00VayeishevJoseph has nice dreams
where he's his brothers boss; he
should've kept quiet.
Hearing him predict
put them in a huff; and him
they thew in the well.
It all worked out well;
He got a great Pharoah job.
But his coat was stained.
It could've been worse.
he could've had Onan's, or
That bakers bad luck.Yakov Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16760192040118582945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908492974120592718.post-1701758527793789522009-12-03T11:07:00.001-08:002009-12-03T11:07:45.433-08:00VayishlachJacob found himself
surrounded by Esau’s Men;
Looks like payback time.
By fighting Angels,
he got back into great shape;
with a cool nickname.
Jake, now Israel,
sent up some gifts, hoping his
brother had calmed down.
Esau forgave him,
said “let’s hang out in Seir”
Israel said “meh.”Yakov Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16760192040118582945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908492974120592718.post-91116321798743508302009-12-03T11:06:00.001-08:002009-12-03T11:06:37.915-08:00VayetzeBy Luz, Jake saw a
stairwell. Chatting with God, he
said “Sure. It’s a deal”.
“For Just four wives, and
sheep bioengineering,
You can be my God.”Yakov Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16760192040118582945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908492974120592718.post-81956265522536874852009-12-03T11:05:00.001-08:002009-12-03T11:05:55.863-08:00ToldotEsau, skilled hunter!
Contract Negotiator,
Not so much at that.
Jake, a schemer! Sharp
dresser in goatskin coats; wears
blessings as a scarf.Yakov Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16760192040118582945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908492974120592718.post-30407111131921188322009-12-03T10:40:00.000-08:002009-12-03T11:34:56.170-08:00Well hello.I've Written torah inspired haiku for months.
Then, I came upon The Torah In Haiku and was inspired to go ahead and make a dedicated blog for mine.
Now, I probably play loose and fast with the haiku rules; i stretch the lines to make it fit. But I stick with 17 syllables.
I'll probably lose my membership in the American Haiku Torah Institute for that, but....I'm willing to take that chance.
Yakov Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16760192040118582945noreply@blogger.com0