Chayei Sara / חַיֵּי שָֹרָה Life of Sarah, Genesis 23:1–25:18 Torah Study and Poetry (5)

A B’nai Mitzvah Torah Planner with Poetry and Inspiration.

Death in the Days of Corona

Corona changes things / causes death and leaves the living to deal with where / to bury, how to prepare the body / for a return to the wholeness of the earth / to become dust again

Corona changes things / where will we buy the plot / who will be there / who must be paid / to set up the zoom

Corona changes things / how to remember / to celebrate / to grieve / who do we want to surround us / virtually, in reality / as we remember the dead

— Genesis 23:1–16 The Death of Sarah

Finding the Familiar

We each crave the familiar
the known
what feels like home
opposites attract
both are true
the trick or skill
finding the familiar
the similarity and safety
the kindred spirit
in the other
the different
even the stranger

— Genesis 23:17–24:9

Marriage and sameness or interracial, interfaith, interculture, international by Adika Suhari on Unsplash

Marriage of a Child

Do you wish for the days / when the father selected the bride / for the son
do you wish / you could say yea or nay / to your child’s choice in a spouse /

Are some better than others because / religion / race / gender / education / culture

Should you have a say / in who your child wants to marry?

Engage with this text if you want / to let go / of prejudice /or bias / or trying to influence the heart of another

— Genesis 23:17–24:9

Seeking Big Hearted

Generosity
come forward generous seek
to surround yourself
— Genesis 24–10–26 Haiku, a form of Japanese Poetry with 5–7–5 syllables per line.

Thanksgiving table, gratitude with friends and family by Meritt Thomas on Unsplash

A Tale To Tell

As you imagine the coming Thanksgiving table
who will be there
who will not
what is the tale you have to tell
more important than eating
what is the tale you have to tell

— Genesis 24:33 ויישם [וַיּוּשַׂ֤ם] לְפָנָיו֙ לֶאֱכֹ֔ל וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לֹ֣א אֹכַ֔ל עַ֥ד אִם־דִּבַּ֖רְתִּי דְּבָרָ֑י וַיֹּ֖אמֶר דַּבֵּֽר׃
But when food was set before him, he said, “I will not eat until I have told my tale.” He said, “Speak, then.”

The Ask

Engage with this text / if you have an ask / tell the tale / ask / then are you ready to go / carrying out the task / seeking further / turning right or left / if your ask / is not yet / satisfied

— Genesis 24:49 וְ֠עַתָּה אִם־יֶשְׁכֶ֨ם עֹשִׂ֜ים חֶ֧סֶד וֶֽאֱמֶ֛ת אֶת־אֲדֹנִ֖י הַגִּ֣ידוּ לִ֑י וְאִם־לֹ֕א הַגִּ֣ידוּ לִ֔י וְאֶפְנֶ֥ה עַל־יָמִ֖ין א֥וֹ עַל־שְׂמֹֽאל׃ And now, if you mean to treat my master with true kindness, tell me; and if not, tell me also, that I may turn right or left.”

Camel journey through Torah poetry by shubham gond on Unsplash

Hitch Hiking

Have you ever hitchhiked / opened your door to a stranger / willing to go on faith or a feeling / this is what I must do / destined to be / to go and see / something new in the world

— Genesis 24:58 וַיִּקְרְא֤וּ לְרִבְקָה֙ וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֵלֶ֔יהָ הֲתֵלְכִ֖י עִם־הָאִ֣ישׁ הַזֶּ֑ה וַתֹּ֖אמֶר אֵלֵֽךְ׃ They called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” And she said, “I will.”

Originally Published in Chayei Sara, Genesis 23:1–25:18 Journal Your Journey Through a Year of Torah https://www.nervewhisperer.solutions/peace-poetry/category/torah-poetry on November 23, 2019.