L'chaim L'chaim - Weekly Parshah and Haftorah analysis: Recent Episodes
Noah Katz
Welcome to the Whole Haftorah (an analysis of the haftorah and how it connects to the Parshah). Also, enjoy my prior episodes detailing my favorite insights from the Parshah.
We should try to go above and beyond our minimum duty,
& infuse the mitzvos with beauty!
To show how far kavod goes,
Eisav only served Yitzchak in royal clothes!
The Ramchal has many big ideas,
Like how to be a Chasid in עֲשִׂיָה
To daven with true devotion,
Yirah has to develop first in the emotions!
In the same way we judge others, we will be judged,
So don't hate or hold a grudge.
Give tzadaka and freely lend,
It is with chesed that the Torah begins and ends!
The chuchamim discuss why they lived a long life,
Rebbi Zeira was careful with his family to avoid strife.
A chasid goes above and beyond,
He weighs his options before he responds!
Going above and beyond is the goal,
With your fellow, be nosei b'ol,
A chasid chases after peace,
For every mitzva, there are ways to increase!
You know your lover's wants without explicit instruction,
And you know what they need merely through deduction.
Chasidus is not external,
It means studying the inner workings of the Eternal.
To have pure motivations,
Mitzvos need preparations.
Do mitzvos while avoiding praise,
And consider what worldly pleasure truly pays.
Doing mitzvos is a great start,
But ultimately Hashem wants our heart.
It matters what goes on in our minds,
Because even emotions have to be refined.
Don't do mitzvos in order to deceive,
And don't do mitzvos just for the reward you'll receive.
If you are impacted by praise,
There's still room to improve your ways!
Pleasure is deceptive and fleeting,
The shortest-lived pleasure is eating.
Worldly enjoyment is usually overblown,
The only way to have Prishus is by spending time alone.
You should be part of society,
But have time alone for piety.
It is a good thing to be strict,
But balanced by values that might conflict.
The type of prishus that Chazal recommended,
Is to find ways to avoid being tested.
With everything kosher, you can still overeat,
Enjoy the essentials, but stay away from the treats!
Perishus is seperating yourself from the croud,
By holding back from what you are allowed.
The world is here for us to enjoy,
But too much indulgence can destroy!
Learning Torah leads to action,
And gives you deep satisfaction.
You have to learn what Torah entails,
And constantly review its many details!
Tayva is bad, but kavod is more destructive,
Jealosy, lust, and honor are seductive, not productive.
If you are committed to nekiyus in your mind,
Your actions will follow closely behind.
When a person is consumed by כעס,
They become irrational, without any דעת.
Be weary of wanting what other's own,
Since jealousy will rot your bones!
Without humility,
It is hard to live a life of tranquility.
Gay'va is something everyone can stumble,
Even those that appear to be humble!
In order to go out to war,
You had to be a naki to your core!
Hilchos Shabbos has many details,
Don't make or even talk about business sales!
Be careful about making a false oath,
Our midos have to follow our torah growth.
Stay far away from lies,
Be a kiddush hashem in everyone's eyes.
If someone asks you for advice,
Your answer needs to be precise.
If someone wrongs us, it is hard to budge,
But the Torah instructs us not to hold a grudge.
It is crucial to be careful with food,
And to go out of our way not to be rude!
Hurtful speech can cause so much pain,
Money can be returned, but words remain!
To be pious,
You must avoid all things related to arayos.
To steer clear of sin, we need many fences,
We need to be careful about all of our senses.
Business laws have many nuances to understand,
Theft has a way of sticking to our hands.
The desire for money is very appealing,
So we must be extra careful to avoid stealing.
It is easy to avoid the most obscene,
But from the small sins, we also need to be clean.
Avak lashon hara is an example,
Of the types of sins easiest to trample.
Stay focused, don't let comforts interfere,
And don't be consumed by irrational fears.
On our mission to become more complete,
We can't be worried about a lion in the street!
When you recognize the טוֹב,
You'll realize that you owe a great חוֹב!
Hashem gives us our needs that are unique,
Zehirus and zerizus share the same techniques.
As the seconds tick by,
A mitzvah might pass by.
Zerizus is required,
To build your desire!
Just a little laziness, we can lose our way,
Doing nothing will lead to decay.
We need zerizus to be at our best,
Because an object at rest will remain at rest!
You can throw away your whole life's goal,
With one small quip or an eye roll.
Most of your actions depend,
On who you chose to be your friends.
We can get so busy that our time goes down the sink,
Not leaving us any time to think.
The yetzer hara has a strong allure,
The yetzer hara is the illness, and the Torah is the cure!
Hashem never overlooks a good or bad deed,
Even the rightous, punishment can be decreed.
The world cannot stand only on דין,
So hashem allows us to repent for our sins.
To get zehirus, learning Torah is essential,
A fire burns within us to reach our full potential.
It is too late once we are in the grave,
So now is the time to work on how we behave!
This world is compared to a confusing maze,
The only way to succeed is to consider our ways.
Without contemplation, our world can be dark,
But the Torah can provide us with a much-needed spark!
It is crucial to save time for contemplation,
And consider your final destination.
Without zehirus, it is like we are blind,
But with some thought, the correct path we can find!
Like a peasant trying to woo a princess,
The holy soul is hard to impress.
There are many distractions this world deploys,
It is mitzvos the soul most enjoys!
We are put in the middle of a strong war,
Faced with a test of what we are living for.
We have the yetzer harah both in front and behind,
Our goal is to have d'veykus on our minds!
The Ramchal promises to be our coach,
He takes us through a step-by-step approach.
Learning mussar requires introspection,
Mesillas Yesharim sets us off in the right direction!
This is the intro to the Path of the Upright,
Studying mussar gives us insight.
The Ramchal says he teaches nothing new,
But we might forget, so we must constantly review.
The Chafetz Chaim stresses the importance of going to shul,
Our tefillah will be answered in full.
There is good to be gained,
just by answering amen!
The yetzer hara promises a person many years,
But it is only a matter of time before those disappear.
Guard your ears, mouth, and eyes,
Those who listen to rebuke are counted among the wise.
Because of the theft a person commits,
We won't save him if he falls into a pit.
If we all work to on being better,
The Torah won't lack even one letter!
Without fear, there's no wisdom, and without wisdom, there's no fear.
Words of lashon hara makes our torah disappear.
Rabbi Yochanan sold his field,
For the Torah his assets would yield.
To set yourself apart,
Have clean hands and a pure heart.
One that hits his friend in secret will be cursed,
Theft is bad but words are worse!
The nation was disgusted with their food,
So an attack of venomous snakes ensued.
Their lashon hara was not proper,
So they had to get atonement from a snake made of copper!
The spies worried their deeds were improper,So they viewed themselves as small grasshoppers.In response to the bad report the spies said,Caleb promised they will devour the nations like bread!
If you were as haughty as a cedar tree, remember the worm,"tamai, tamai" the metzora had to confirm.Each metzora must be kept on isolation,By calling him a sinner, we don’t protect his reputation.
To atone for lashon hara, the kohen gadol wore bells,A person is rewarded for the Torah he tells.A person's main pursuit, is to train himself to behave as if he were a mute
Moshe was punished with הן,
That just a few days of his life remained.
The roman judge's heart was hardened,
But Rabbi Eliezer was quickly pardoned!
Yesef put money in his brothers' sacks,
Until Yaakov was reunited, he could not relax.
Yosef sat the brothers by their ages,
Yehudah offered to work for Yosef without wages!
Yosef spent 10 years in prison corresponding to his 10 brothers,
He spent an additional two years for relying too much on others.
Yehuda deceived Yaakov with the blood of a goat,
Yehuda was punished when Tamar asked, "Is this your coat?"
Hashem's presence leaves when lashon hara is spoken,
And our Devine protection is broken.
Don't be taken by lashon hara's charm,
Because it has no benefit, only harm.
Sinas Chinam leads to destruction,
It is worthwhile avoiding its seduction.
On the Day of Judgement, don't forget your name,
You can be punished for someone else's shame.
The Torah is compared to a loved wife,
We waste so many precious moments in life.
The Holy of Holies, lashon hora can reach,
So on Yom Kippur, the kohen would atone for our speech!
Hashem will recount all of our conversations,
Lashon hara spoken causes accusations.
Avoiding lashon hara makes us immune to evil,
But if spoken, it will lead to social upheaval.
Even with many mitzvos, our mouths may lead us astray,
So it is imperative to guard what we say.
If we give a needle, we will get a palace gate,
By starting a little, we could end up with something great!
Today we are reviewing the introduction,
Lashon hara can lead to destruction.
The yetzer hara wears many masks,
Don't distance yourself from never-ending tasks!
If you use the Torah as a guide,
You'll learn to ignore insults and let things slide.
Modesty, compassion, and acts of kindness define a Jew,
The laws of lashon haha need constant review.
Search for the Torah like a treasure,
Toiling in it provides the greatest pleasure.
Despite exile from countless nations,
The Torah has been kept for all generations!
Grasp onto just one branch on the tree of life,
By avoiding speech that causes strife.
The laws of lashon hara, society ignores,
So if you avoid lashon hara, the reward is uniquely yours!
A Jew without Torah is like a fish without water,
So it is crucial to educate our sons and daughters.
The importance of learning cannot be overblown,
Without learning, even prayer is not enough on its own.
Yaakov went to yeshiva for 14 years,
That prepared him to face Lavan's sneers.
Contemplate a mitzvah's reward,
And the yetzer hara will be ignored!
Our abandonment of the Torah will be an indictment,
Avraham offered his son, Yitzchak, with excitement.
Every time the study of the Torah is ignored,
We lose out on its everlasting reward.
Don't neglect Torah, heaven forbid,
Make sure to teach it to your kids.
The effort spent in Torah is well worth the return,
So get started, because there is always more to learn!
If today there are no lambs,
Tomorrow there will be no rams.
The Torah is magnificent,
Everyone that supports it is significant!
The money spent on Torah is compared to a nut,
A new nut replaces the one that was cut.
Zebulun is happy going out to sea,
Because his success will be guaranteed!
Not learning Torah is a crime,
So make sure learning is done during free time.
Don't allow our Torah study to become lax,
Because that makes us vulnerable to Amalek's attack!
Bear the Torah like an ox bears its yoke,
We will be rewarded for the Torah we spoke.
We are obligated in Torah whether we are poor or wealthy,
Or whether we are old, young, sick, or healthy!
Those who learn Torah are second to none,
They are so bright, they shine like the sun.
The Torah has a sweet reward,
And it connects a person to the Lord.
If lashon hara has caused a breach,
Learning Torah can purify your speech.
Torah is not beyond the sea,
Like water, Torah is free.
Don't fault a person for your own flaw,
The way we judge others, we'll be judged by the same law.
The downfall of others is not a time to rejoice,
We have the power to uplift with our voice!
The yetzer hara can be beat,
Turning what was bitter into something sweet.
To avoid anger and riot,
It might be best to stay quiet.
In the end, when the soul returns,
We will be asked about the Torah we knew and Mishna we learned.
To gain a true sense of humility,
Consider your fallibility.
Remember what Hashem did to Miriam,
Because the spies forgot, they were in delirium.
It is best to run away from the scoffers,
And realize that anger has nothing good to offer.
An angel's height is 500 years,
It is best to stay silent in the face of jeers and sneers.
Strive to become a willing donor,
Because Hashem will return money to its rightful owner.
It is best not to respond to insults,And to happily accept even a bad result.A person that is quick to forgive shines like the sun,An insult accepted means future punishment is undone!
Instead of insults, it is better to praise,
Spend time to highlight our good ways.
Grudges lead to division and divorce,
We all come from a common source!
However you judge others is how you'll be judged,
So it is best to avoid a grudge.
Don't speak every work you desire,
Because the mouth never tires.
The best mida is to keep quiet,
Silence is healthier than a diet.
A man's job is to behave like he's mute,
Avoiding lashon hara is a lifelong pursuit!
A son shouldn't join the argument of his dad,
Joining a fight will turn out bad.
Chase after peace if not today, for tomorrow,
Because a peaceful future gets rid of sorrow!
Even though hatred is exciting,
It will ultimately lead to fighting.
The end of controversy is death,
So let's all take a deep breath!
The Yetzer Hora tells us a person wouldn't lie to our face,
But the reality is that our trust might be misplaced.
To prevent what matters most from being destroyed,
Lashon hara we must avoid!
We should all know the power of peace,
Our words can cause joy to increase.
Language is a powerful tool,
Judging others favorably is a good rule!
A speaker of lashon hara is thrown to the dogs,
The gilgul of Yosef was eaten by a hog.
During our lifetime, we have the ability to repent,
In the face of lashon hara, turn your lips into cement.
A metzora must ask others to pray,
Because his own words have led him astray.
Speech is our very essence,
Lashon hara will lead our soul to obsolescence.
The 10 spies only spoke bad about trees and stones,
How much worse to speak bad about flesh and bones!
The three sins are great, but lashon hara is greater,
Lashon hara does not co-exist with our creator.
Our judgments are based on how we judge others,
Hashem doesn't like fighting amongst brothers.
Lashon hara incited the prosecution,
Guarding our tongues results in the best resolution.
This is the Shemirat Halashon introduction,
Speaking lashon hara leads to unimaginable destruction,
If you do as much of a mitzvah as you can,
You'll be in a much better place than from where you began!
Don't disclose what could be discovered in a test,
Don't speak lashon hora, even if you're being pressed.
While it might seem like the Chachumim were quick to insult,
It is obvious that they only intended a positive result.
It is Lifnei Iver to give bad advice,
Even when you should warn, don't exaggerate, be precise.
The rules are more restrictive if the partnership is already formed,
If what you say will cause a loss, it is best to not inform.
You should praise your friend's bad purchase in the shuk,
Because it is impossible to return the item to the crook.
Rechilut can cause machloket to worsen,
So don't blame your own sins on another person!
Warn Reuven before he is cheated,
You can even tell him if the sale was completed.
Only tell Reuven if something good will result,
Because otherwise telling him is just an insult!
If someone tells you they have a hatred burning inside,
Try to calm them until their anger subsides.
Warn a victim of their oncoming plight,
But only if the victim won't pre-empt the fight!
It is a mitzvah to warn against an impending loss,
But don't exaggerate to get your message across.
To speak rechilut, there are five conditions,
To prevent others from falling into a compromised position!
Words can hurt, even if said in praise,
Don't tell Plony's wife that Plony gave you a raise.
Don't publicize that someone did you a favor,
Every word we say should be savored!
Rechilut is ussor, even if the original speaker is underage
Don't speak rechilut, especially if it is about a Torah sage.
Speaking rechilut will inevitably lead to strife,
It makes no difference if it was told to a victim or even to his wife.
Don't believe a rumor, even if it was widely known,
Most rumors are exaggerated and overblown.
Too often we believe rechilut if it was said by our fathers or mothers,
Rechilut should not be spread to others!
If you hear a report that you will be under attack,
Protect yourself while assuming the report was wack.
The speaker of rechilut should not be believed,
Because his story was probably misconceived!
If you hear a rumor, you can launch an investigation,
But only believe the most favorable explanation.
Rumors often contain exaggerated content,
If you believe the rumor, you should quickly repent!
Speaking rechilut can reopen old wounds,
Try to stop hatred before it balloons.
Repeating rechilut adds fuel to the fire,
To do teshuva, an apology is required!
Don't tell parents lashon hara about their kids,
There are many types of rechilut the Torah forbids.
Rabbi Yossi never said anything he had to retract,
Choose your words wisely and consider their impact!
Repeating a rumor is generally not allowed,
Rechilut is even worse if repeated to a crowd.
To avoid putting others to shame,
Be careful when speaking to those that like to blame!
The halachot of rechilut are mostly a refresher,
Don't gossip, even under pressure.
As a last resort,
To create peace, the truth you can distort.
You can report a criminal plot,
In order to return items that are hot.
What you say about someone might have stung,
Because life and death lie in the tongue!
When someone speaks lashon hara, it's a terrible blunder,
Do all you can to steal the speaker's thunder.
In an effort to make the world more pleasant,
Speak to'eles with at least three people present!
If you see someone steal,
Their identity can be revealed.
But address him in private before publicizing his name,
And do all you can to minimize his shame!
In front of someone's enemies, don't sing their praise,
Make sure to second guess what your message conveys.
It is best to learn about lashon hora as a child,
So that when they grow up, your mouth won't run wild!
Don't speak lashon hara against an adult or kids,
Lashon hara, even to your family, the Torah forbids.
Don't speak lashon hara, especially to a goy,
But positive words can bring us great joy!
Don't believe lashon hara, even said in passing,
And don't believe it either if the speaker was harassing.
If lashon hara is supported by independent facts,
You can stay away from the sinner until what he stole is given back!
Silence is not an admission of guilt,
Don't let lashon hara destroy the good reputation they've built.
You should believe the victim over the speaker,
A single witness is weak, but a rumor is weaker.
If you hear lashon hara, it is best to get up and leave,
If it is forbidden to say, it is also forbidden to believe.
If lashon hara is relevant, suspecting it is smart,
But that is not a license to harbor hatred in your heart!
If you hear lashon hara, It is a sin to believe it's true,
But you can suspect it if the lashon hara is relevant to you.
If you are around lashon hara, it is best to leave that place,
Or show you don't believe it by making a face.
It is lashon hara to say that a person is dumb,
Or to say that people didn't like him in the town he came from.
Publicizing a certain piece of information,
Might be lashon hara depending on the situation.
Don't speak about a person's bad personality,
Because people don't realize that their anger leads to immorality.
You can ask about a business partner before you interact,
Lashon hara is very difficult to properly retract.
Don't publicize a one-off sin,
Even with two witnesses, don't report to beis din.
You can let a rabbi know if he'll keep it discreet,
And rebuke the sinner to prevent a repeat.
If a Jew does a sin, assume it was out of his control,
Assume he did teshuva unless it was money that he stole.
Don't publicize the sin of someone's past,
It is lashon hara to put that person on blast!
It is lashon hara even if you say it as a joke,
And even if the listener didn't believe what was spoke.
Give others the benefit of the doubt,
Especially if you don't know how the whole story came about!
Don't spread lashon hara if you're supposed to keep it confidential,
Don't mock a speaker by criticizing their credentials.
If you are a judge that has authority,
Don't tell the loser that you voted for him in the minority.
Don't speak lashon hara, especially in a group,
This even applies if you have the inside scoop.
If you speak to three people, the work will get out,
The Chafetz Chaim teaches us what lashon hara is all about!
Lashon hara is by definition true,
Don't speak it out loud or even through a clue.
Lashon haha can be in words or in writing,
Don't speak it even if it is exciting.
The Chafetz Chaim quotes verses,
To tell us lashon hora will bring many curses.
Not speaking lashon hora will lengthen our days,
And help us walk in His ways!
Lashon Hara has many Laveen combined,
Don't put a stumbling block in front of the blind.
Don't accept a false report,
Amd don't be a single witness in a court!
Speaking lashon hara can lead to our demise,
Look no further than the sneaky snake, Miriam's words, and the sin of the spies.
If only we undertood how high our words ascend,
Lashon hara would make our hair stand on end!
Egypt Promised to protect Israel in a time of need,
But when push came to shove, Egypt was as flimsy as a reed.
On that day, Hashem will cause the might of Israel to sprout,
And the world will know Hashem throughout!
Dovid's life was ending and Shlomo's reign began,
Shlomo is told to be strong and become a man.
Shlomo should rule with the justice he discerns,
If he walks in Hashem's ways, he'll succeed wherever he turns!
Both Paroh and Shlomo awoke from a dream,
Shlomo's wisdom made him esteemed.
The woman that said "give the child to the other,"
Shlomo reasoned that she had to be the mother!
Yosef was sold for a pair of shoes,
The prophets sent warnings, but the people refused.
Hashem must rebuke the people he adores,
The people will shake in fear after the lion roars!
Efraim carries deceitful weights in their hand,
For their grave sins, they'll be kicked out of their land.
The ten lost tribes will not survive the birth pains,
Those in Hashem's shadow will be revived like grain!
No amount of clothing could make Dovid warm,
"An imposter king stole your throne," Dovid was informed.
Bat Sheva was promised that Shlomo would reign,
And the Davidic Dynasty would forever remain!
Ovadia's widow was saved with miraculous oil,
The great barren woman was rewarded for her toil.
Alisha was given his own private room,
The great woman's son was saved from the tomb!
The idol worshipers tell one another to be strong,
Without realizing they have been wrong all along,
The Jews are compared to the lowly worm,
Our strength is renewed if our hope remains firm!
The Jewish people are afflicted and storm-tossed,
In the end, bread and wine will not cost.
The world will never again see Noah's waters,
The baren Tzion will bring in her sons and daughters!
Hashem creates the heavens and the land,
He calls us righteous and holds our hand.
Prophecies are spoken before they sprout,
Redemption will come if the Jews are devout!
The war of Gog and Magog will cause an earthquake, walls will fall and mountains will break. Gog will drop the arrows they carried, And their corpses will be buried. Hashem kept the promise he told to Moshe, His servant, King Shlomo prayed that the Jews would be observant. On Shemini Atzeret, the nation of Israel departed, They all went home happy and good-hearted! Don't deviate from the Torah left or right, And contemplate it day and night. Success in the land is based on our merit, As was swarn to our forefathers, Israel we'll inherit!
David was victorious in the face of defeat,
His enemies were crushed like mud in the street.
In the end, the nations will gather for a war,
Merchants in the Temple will be no more.
Towards evening, there will be light,
And Gog and Magog will lose the fight!
King David's silver and gold were refused
because when there was a drought, the gold went unused.
Finally, the Holy Temple was finished,
And Hashem's cloud of glory was not diminished.
Our brachot give life to the grain,
Hashem's people will no longer be ashamed.
Our roots run as deep as the Lebanon tree,
Our sins will be cast to the bottom of the sea!
If we are insincere, Hashem will call our bluff,
Wearing sacloth and fasting is not enough.
Shalom shalom to the far and near,
If we cry out, Hashem will say, "I'm here"
Go warn Ninvai of their sins, Yona was informed,
He tried to flee but was met with a mighty storm.
Yona was swallowed by a big fish,
Ninvai repented, just as Hashem wished!
What will become of Edom is violent,
For the sake of Tzion, Hashem won't be silent.
In our troubles, He is troubled,
In the End of Days, our joy will be doubled!
Chana cried out in despair,
That being childless was wildly unfair,
Hashem answered Chana's prayer,
Shmuel was dedicated and did not cut his hair.
The 10 lost tribes may seem forlorn,
But in reality, they are Hashem's firstborn.
For her missing children, Rachel cries,
But when the Jews return, she will dry her eyes!
Arise, shine, for your light has arrived,
From the ashes, Israel survives.
In place of copper, there will be gold,
Yeshaya tells us how salvation will unfold!
Our exile may seem prolonged,
But soon the barren one will break out in song,
Mountains move and hills falter,
But the covenant of peace won't be altered!
This is the fourth haftorah of consolation,
Hashem plants heaven and gives earth a firm foundation.
Our oppressors' fury is a waste,
The final redemption won't be in haste!
The Jewish people are poor and storm-tossed,
Even without money, the bread of Torah doesn't cost.
Nations have tried to hurt us, like Egypt, Germany, and Greece,
Yet the eternal Torah has brought us abundant peace!
Hashem's throne is in heaven and the earth is his footstool,
The Moshiach will come with divine rule.
The world will be reborn without labor pains,
Rosh Chodesh and Shabbat will remain!
After so many years, Hashem forgot us, maybe? But that can't be, can a mother forget her baby? Avraham and Sarah were once all alone, But through their unwavering belief, they became well-known!
After we have felt enough of Hashem's wrath,
The road to redemption will be a straight path.
For 7 haftorahs we will be consoled,
With a strong arm, He'll lead us to our goal!
The destruction of the Temple was from the Divine,
There were no figs on trees, or grapes on vines.
When Israel's harsh fate was sealed,
Corpses fell like dung on fields.
Seek Hashem when he can be found and call on him when he is near,
In place of a thornbush, a cypress will appear.
The barren one shouldn't say he is a shriveled tree,
The dispersed of Israel will gather, as we'll see!
The reason for the Temple's destruction is described,
The leaders ignored orphans and took bribes,
In due time Hashem will take pity,
And Jerusalem will once again be called a righteous city.
The Jews pursued futility and became futile,
The destruction of the beis hamikdash was brutal.
In times of distress, ask the gods you made to save you,
If you pursue the truth, the temple will be rebuilt anew!
Yirmia did not know how to speak,
He foresaw that the Jewish future was bleak.
Yirmia was sent to speak the hard truth,
Hashem remembers us in the days of our youth!
The Jewish people are compared to dew,
Bilaam tried to curse us, but all he said was true.
We were told what is good, but we fell for scams,
Can we thank Hashem with one thousand rams?
Yiftach was a ben isha zona,
Throughout his life, he built quite the persona.
Yiftach had an unusual rise to power,
The Jews prevailed when Ammon was devoured!
Shmuel rebukes the people for wanting a king,
Shmuel didn't steal an ox, a donkey, not even one thing.
After a summertime thunderstorm came,
Hashem would not forsake His people for the Sake of His great name!
The two spies were saved by Rachav, the harlot,
She ties a rope to her window that was the color scarlet.
Rachav hid the two spies on her roof,
The Jews could take Israel, this story is proof!
Yehoshua was wearing filthy clothes,
They were replaced with clean garments, the old were disposed.
Great and mighty mountains will become plains,
The Second Temple was built while Zerubbavel reigned!
An angel made Shimshon aware,
That their son will be a Nazir and cannot cut his hair.
After the angel refused to say his own name,
He miraculously disappeared when he went up in flames!
The holy angels were four-faced,
Bless the glory of G-d from His place.
The coming of the Moshiach is compared to birth pains,
The other nations were offered, but with the Jews, the Torah remains!
The Jews are compared to the sand of the sea,
We will return regardless of how far we may be.
Once the other nations find us disgusting,
In the end, Hashem alone we will be trusting.
We are like a dry desert tree if we chase the wrong pursuits,
While a true believer is like a lush tree that always produces fruits.
With an iron pen, our sins are engraved,
Heal me, Hashem, and I'll be healed, save me, and I'll be saved!
As the likelihood of exile increases,
Yirmiya bought Israeli land for 7 shekel and 10 silver pieces.
After the sale, Yirmiya prayed,
That the Jews would return to Israel and not be betrayed.
The kohanim are restricted in who they can marry,
And only close relatives, they are allowed to bury.
The kohanim teach what is holy and pure,
Only the family of Tzadok will endure!
The counting of the omer goes from barley to wheat,
If we lead by example, others will repeat.
An outsider is poor of connections,
A sacrifice must have no imperfections.
The Jews are compared to grain in a sieve,
The sinful kingdom will not live.
But in the end, the Jews will be a keeper,
The day will come when the plowman will meet the reaper!
The new month is tomorrow,
Yehonatan and Dovid's friendship ends in sorrow.
As a sign for Dovid, 3 arrows were released,
Yehonatan tells Dovid to go to peace!
On Yom Kippur, the kohen gadol had to be alone,
If you want to change someone's mind, try starting with your own.
Be honest in business with the right weights and measures,
when we hear of other's success, we should only feel pleasure!
David was victorious in the face of defeat,
His enemies were crushed like mud in the street.
The wolf will live with the sheep, the leopard with the goat,
A song of joy will be in our throats!
There had been no circumcision for 39 years,
The Jews conquered Yaricho without any fears.
King Yoshiyahu found a Torah that was hidden,
He brought the korban Pesach and idolatry was forbidden!
Be specific when you're thankful, leave no room for second guessing,
Even the wicked child is worthy of a blessing.
From Pharaoh we learn to weaken our convictions,
Those that try to destroy us make us stronger, that's not a contradiction!
This week is Shabbos HaGadol,
The week before the Jews left Egypt in a scuttle.
Those that fear God are written in the Book of Remembrance,
The Egyptian and final redemption will share some resemblance!
We will read this haftorah in our shuls,
Each day of Pesach we give a goat, seven rams, and seven bulls.
On Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh we open the courtyard gate,
For the 3rd Beit HaMikdash, we await!
Speech can be used for good or for evil,
It has the power to connect or cause social upheaval.
We have lots of potential, but are not born perfect,
Quarantine gives us the needed time to reflect!
Nadab and Abihu were killed by bringing a foreign fire,
In the face of tragedy, sometimes silence is required.
When the stakes are high, it is good o be nervous,
Help people on their terms to provide the best service.
Hashem will replace our stone heart with one made of flesh,
Our new heart and spirit will be refreshed.
We will return to Israel, not for our own sake,
The land of Israel will once again awake!
Hashem cries out in despair,
To rip out the Nazir's hair.
Our bones will be exposed to the stars,
The knowledge of G-d is the only thing that's ours.
Aaron is mentioned first when he gets a chance to clean,
An outsider is needed to break out of a routine.
How can mixing bread and matzah be understood?
We have to think about the bad times to appreciate the good!
Shaul was appointed as the king,
He just had to do one little thing.
Amalek's name had to be erased,
But since he failed, Shaul was replaced!
A sacrifice is brought if a person sins by mistake,
A korbon could be an animal, bird, or even a flour cake,
A korbon is a way to bring us close,
We create a nice smell when we do our very most.
King David's silver and gold were refused,
Because when there was a drought, the gold went unused.
Finally, the holy temple was finished,
And Hashem's cloud of glory was not diminished!
Athaliah's evil rule ended abruptly,
But that was followed by the kohanim acting corruptly.
The Holy Temple was in disrepair,
And was only fixed once donations were handled with care!
The Jews became skilled artisans after merely being slaves,
They donated to the Mishkan, they gave, and gave, and gave.
After many difficulties, in spite of opposition,
The Jews prevailed and finally built the Mishkan!
Eliyahu came to end a three-year drought,
And to decide who is the true G-d without leaving a doubt.
Prophet versus prophet; what would transpire?
The bull, water, wood, and stones were consumed in a holy fire!
The Parsha starts with everyone giving a shekel cut in half,
And ends with making amends for the sin of the golden calf.
To wait patiently for Moshe was too much to ask,
Moshe’s face shined so brightly he had to wear a mask!
Before the Temple is rebuilt, our ways must be reformed,
We are given a description of the Temple in its final form.
Yechezkel wrote down the Temple blueprint before their eyes,
We can only dream of the day the Temple will arise!
This week’s Parshah is all about the priests,
And the sacrifices that were eaten as a feast.
The kohen’s robe had bells made of gold,
The kohen’s ornate costume was a sight to behold!
This haftorah speaks of one of the world's greatest inventions,
The Holy Temple and its precise dimensions.
The Temple was made out of massive stones,
But when the Jews stopped following mitzvot, the temple was overthrown!
The Mishkan was a sight to behold,
Including the menorah made of pure gold!
The ark’s wooden poles were never removed,
The people donated if their heart was moved!
King Tzidkiahu ruled that all slaves will be released,
But soon after, the slaves' freedom had ceased.
Once slavery was re-asserted,
The city of Jerusalem would soon be deserted!
This Parshah is full of mitzvot to comply
Like "a life for a life, and an eye for an eye".
And to give a fellow Jew an interest-free loan,
The elders saw Hashem standing on a sapphire stone.
"Holy, Holy, Holy is Hashem," the angels spoke,
The holy temple became full of smoke.
It's as if we have eyes but cannot see,
Yet we still have a spark of life like a winter oak tree!
Yitro joined the Jewish people once he heard the report,
Then Yitro recommended adding judges to the courts.
The Jews witness the Har Sinai revelation,
And we are called a kingdom of priests and a holy nation!
Everyone but Sisro was dead,
But soon after, Yael put a peg through Sisro's head!
This victory was a reason for song,
But the resulting peace wouldn't last for long!
The Jews left for Israel using a roundabout route,
Soon after leaving, Pharaoh was in pursuit!
The Jews were unhappy and made many demands,
They overcame Amalek when Moshe held up his hands!
Our haftorah tries to get Egypt to focus,
Because the Babylonians would attack like locus!
While the nations surrounding Israel may be destroyed,
Total decimation the Jews will avoid!
For nine plagues prior the Egyptians were warned,
But they didn't listen until the death of the first born.
The Jews celebrate the first ever seder,
And will soon tell the Egyptians, "see you later!"
Seven plagues make the parsha including blood, frogs, and hail,
Before they hit Egypt, they were described in great detail.
Plague after plague, Paro's heart was hardened,
Even wild beasts and boils didn't get the Jews pardoned!
Moshe was put in a basket to float down the river,
It's amazing what that baby would one day deliver!
Moshe didn't leave Midian until he asked his in-law,
The Jews kept making bricks, but without any straw!
Yaakov put his right hand on the younger and his left hand on the older,
Yissachar's land was pleasant, yet he bent his shoulder.
Yehudah is compared to a crouching lion,
After his death, Yaakov was brought to Zion.
I am Yosef, is my father still alive?
Yaakov sees his prophecy revived.
All Egyptian land belonged to Paroh except for the priest's,
The Jews did well in Egypt and their numbers increased!
There was 7 years of plenty followed by 7 years of drought,
Yosef threatens Benyamin, but the brothers stayed devout.
The brothers didn't recognize Yosef because he had a beard,
But Yosef knew how old they were, isn't that weird!
Yosef's brothers bowed down to him in his dreams,
That make his brothers angry and they started to scheme,
The brothers wanted Yosef to die,
The bread had a pebble, the wine had a fly!
In this week's parshah, Yaakov gets a new name,
After Dina's rape, the family is inflamed.
The angel struck Yaakov's sciatic nerve,
When Yaakov stayed with Laban, all the mitzvos were observed!
Yaakov sees angels on a ladder in his dream,
Laban tricks Yaakov with many sneaky schemes.
Yaakov move a heavy stone from off a well,
In the end, Laban and Yaakov bid each other farewell!
Yaakov is born holding Esav's heel,
Yitzchak think Esav makes tasty meals.
Esav picks red stew over the birthright, when given the choice,
Yitzchak feels Esav's hands, but hears Yaakov's voice!
In this parshah we say some goodbyes,
Because both Avraham and Sarah die.
After Sarah is buried,
Yitzchak and Rivka get married!
Hashem visits Avraham after his bris,
The angels brought good news, but Sarah laughs at this!
Lot's wife turns into a pillar of salt,
Yitzchak is saved right before his dad's assault.
In this parsha, Avraham is told to go,
Then there's a drought, so he meets Paroh,
On their way out of Egypt, they're given provisions,
At the end of the parsha, they perform circumcision.
G-d destroyed the world because everyone was a thief,
But Noah was saved, and was the first to eat beef!
G-d remembered Noah because he cared animals aboard,
The rainbow is a promise that the world will be restored!
On Shabbat, the world was complete,
From the Tree of Knowledge, Adam and Eve shouldn't eat.
Adam gave every animal its name,
After eating from the tree, Adam and Eve are quick to blame.
In this Parsha, we learn of Moshe's death,
He blesses the nation with his final breath.
Moshe's passing caused sorrow and bereavement,
Breaking the tablets was Moshe's crowning achievement!
Haazinu is in the form of a song,
Our history books had the answers all along.
Out of anger, Hashem will use up his arrows,
But in the end, the Jews will beat out the evil pharaohs!
Yehoshua is told he needs to be strong,
God's message is most effective in a song.
Now that Moshe can no longer go out or go in,
The journey into Israel is about to begin!
Despite falling, we find ourselves standing,
The Torah is complex, but not beyond our understanding.
Teshuvah enters our mouths before it gets in our hearts,
On Moshe's last day, there are many lessons he imparts!
When you want to improve, you should start with the good,
It takes 40 years until a teacher is understood.
There's a big party when they brought the first fruits,
To appreciate something, go back to its roots!
The Amorite and Moabite we're not allowed to marry,
And we should help a donkey if it is struggling to carry.
Leave a bundle of wheat in the field if you forgot,
There are many mitzvot in this Parsha, there really are a lot!
Put the Torah in the place you like most,
Our leaders must be humble and careful not to boast.
Justice, justice you shall pursue,
Elul is the time to become a better Jew!
It's either blessings or curses, you see,
Give a loan without interest or fee.
Those closest to us have the greatest impact,
Don't add to the Torah and don't subtract!
Knowing our story is more powerful than military might,
The Jews thought they were righteous, Moshe says that's not quite right.
The nation is told to eat, be satisfied, then bless,
We should second guess the origin of all of our success!
Before we learn the laws, first understand the story,
Har Sinai was full of clouds, fire, and glory.
The Torah should feel as if it was given today,
Try your best, even if it only goes half-way!
Most of Sefer Devarim has already been said,
Moshe rebukes the nation on his death bed.
The Jews wanted judges to accept all their bribes,
The Jewish police must be well-known amongst their tribes!
Officers brought atonement for a favor not earned,
Reuben and Gad would fight for Israel then return.
We learn all about the power of speech,
At the end of Bamidbar, the land of Israel's within reach!
Yehoshua was one of Moshe's assistants,
He deserved to be the leader since he was so persistent.
Some rewards are slow, while others are quick,
Bringing a lamb every day will surely do the trick!
Balaam was great but he lacked the humility,
Baal-Peor was worshiped by using the facilities.
We meet a donkey who knows how to converse,
Balaam tries, but the Jews he can't curse!
To Meriam and Aaron we bid farewell,
With Miriam gone, so was the water in the well.
When the Jews complained about food, they were bitten by snakes,
Moshe's anger at the rock was a costly mistake
Chaos is a fertile breeding ground for division,
Be sure to get some sleep before making a decision.
If our arguments are well-intentioned, in the end they will endure,
Korach was misdirected, but he was right to want more!
In Shelach, we learn about the sin of the spies,
Tzitzit are worn so we don't explore after our heart and eyes.
The Meraglim brought back massive fruit,
For their sin they had to tack on 40 years to their route
The greatest leaders should sometimes say they don't know,
Miriam got tzaraat and it looked like snow.
The Jews yearned for Egypt where they got fish for free,
There's always something to kvetch about, and that's a grantee!
To move on, a person has to let go of the past,
The Sotah and the Nazir stand in stark contrast.
Berkat Kohanim is done with love and peace,
When we're thankful for the small things, blessings will never cease!
Every person is both a number and a name,
While we should all work together, none of us are the same.
Moshe and Aaron counted each Jew to understand their situation,
Shavuot is a time to celebrate preparation!
Even if we are at the bottom, there are still expectations,
One year of shemittah takes six years of preparation.
If you always stay busy, you'll have a full night's sleep,
On the yovel year, the land you bought, you can't keep.