David’s Corner – July 18, 2022
Discipline maintains focus No sooner had the Israelites defeated their foes Then they decided to celebrate by fornicating with Moabite women. God responded by inflicting yet another plague and hundreds died. Pincus, Aaron’s grandson, picked up a spear And crying, “Enough of this self-sabotage,” Pierced an Israelite and his Moabite lover. The plague stopped and […]
David’s Corner – July 11, 2022
The Donkey Tossed to and fro Pulling to the opposite Side that Balaam did. The donkey had been this agitated before, But never before had he been able to say, In a human tongue: “You silly man! What kind of prophet are you To force a donkey To do your will?” “And what kind of […]
David’s Corner – July 4, 2022
Respect and Disrespect When you consider how disrespectful Korach, Dathan, and Abiram were toward Moses And by extension to Adonai, It isn’t hard to discern a certain relief in their destruction. But what about Adonai insisting on correct sacrificial ritual For an animal that may not even exist? Maybe by respecting a “red cow,” We […]
David’s Corner – June 27, 2022
Korach We know that Amalek Was the worst of the worst But really, Korach, When you add up all the folks Who were swallowed up With you And those who died in The plague that followed Yours was a worse crime, For you destroyed a part Of your own people from within, While casting doubt […]
David’s Corner – June 20, 2022
Woulda, shoulda, coulda. It’s likely that the exodus generation Invented this phrase. Instead of taking the opportunity To enter and fight for the Promised Land They played on their own worst fears Listening to the naysayer scouts Rather than listening To the inner voice of possibility. Their great reward: A sentence of up to […]
David’s Corner – June 13, 2022
It’s Grumpy Time The Israelites are complaining about Having to eat mana all the time. Miriam complains about Moses’s new black bride from Cush Aaron complains about Moses Getting all the attention from the Lord, Acting as if he is the only person the Lord talks to. The […]
David’s Corner – April 25, 2022
Aaron After the deaths of his sons Nadab and Abihu. Aaron said not a word — Not to his brother Moses, Nor to his wife, Elisheba, The mother of Nadab and Abihu, Nor to his other sons, Eleazar and Itamar, Who worried greatly about him. Aaron awaited HaShem’s further wrath, Entertaining fantasies of personal destruction, […]
David’s Corner – August 31, 2021
Netzavim (Deut. 29:9 – 30:20) The parasha represents a shift in tone on the part of HaShem. In the last parasha, Ki Tavo, the approach is one of tough love. It discusses blessings and curses, with a heavy emphasis on the latter. Netzavim begins with the whole community entering officially into the covenant with HaShem. […]
Passover 2022
Passover 2022 It was a major success. Forty eight people attended – 30 non-members and 18 members. Food was fantastic and a lot of it. Everyone raved about the food and the evening. The room looked really, really nice (white tablecloths with a blue one over and white napkins), service great—the gentleman in charge […]
David’s Corner – June 21, 2021
Balak (Numbers 22:2 – 25:9) Balaam is the unsung prophet of the Torah. In the course of his appearance in the parasha Balak, Baalam transforms the perception of the Israelites from dreaded outsiders who are to be cursed, to a powerful people who enjoy HaShem’s approval. Baalam’s contribution at first seems highly unlikely. He has […]