tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25752466661382598522024-02-08T01:24:05.544-05:00Sudden GenesisObeying inspiration, wherever it may leadAdam Singerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08919440993437796732noreply@blogger.comBlogger288125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246666138259852.post-24036656763083357992023-11-07T22:27:00.007-05:002023-11-08T20:20:59.569-05:00D'var Chayei Sara 2023This week’s parsha is Chayei Sara - the life of Sarah - which begins, somewhat incongruously, with the death of Sarah. Abraham acquires a burial ground for her, ensuring the transaction is witnessed by the community. We then hear of Abraham’s instructions to his chief servant to find a wife for Isaac among Abraham’s kinsfolk. Rebecca shows her generosity in drawing water for not only the servant Adam Singerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08919440993437796732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246666138259852.post-8685972583964030882023-02-08T20:00:00.003-05:002023-11-08T20:21:32.260-05:00D'var Yitro 2023In this week’s parsha, Yitro, Moses’ father-in-law bring Zipporah their children to join Moses and the Hebrews in the wilderness. They “ask after the other’s welfare”, and then Moses recounts the story of the exodus from Egypt. The next day, Moses sits as magistrate from morning until evening, resolving disputes.Jethro asks him what he’s doing, why he acts alone. Moses says, “It’s because the Adam Singerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08919440993437796732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246666138259852.post-87993214108603611462022-10-06T19:09:00.003-04:002022-10-06T19:09:41.052-04:00D'var Yom Kippur 5783: Who is Azazel? In today’s parsha we read:וְנָתַן אַהֲרֹן עַל־שְׁנֵי הַשְּׂעִירִם גֹּרָלוֹת גּוֹרָל אֶחָד לַה' וְגוֹרָ֥ל אֶחָד לַעֲזָאזֵלAnd Aaron shall place lots upon the two goats, one marked for HaSem and the other marked for Azazel. (Lev 16:8)For Azazel? Who, or what, is Azazel? For many years, I’ve come to Yom Kippur services and wondered this. Sometimes I’ve tried to read into the text and Adam Singerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08919440993437796732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246666138259852.post-39874108923922152692022-08-14T17:42:00.006-04:002022-10-06T19:10:31.690-04:00 D’var EikevDeuteronomy 7:12-11:25In the parsha for this coming week, Moses continues to address the gathered tribes as they prepare to cross the river Jordan into the promised land. He recounts events that happened in the desert, including the manna, the golden calf, and Aaron's death. Moses describes the blessings God will bestow upon the Israelites if they follow God’s law and the punishments they will Adam Singerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08919440993437796732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246666138259852.post-68111434784648560252022-07-31T08:08:00.000-04:002022-07-31T08:08:12.540-04:00Farmyard MatchmakerI recently was flipping through the hundreds of free channels on my Roku TV and came across a rather unusual game show. The premise was that farmers would bring some of their animals, and the host would invite two different farmers at a time to come into the pen to see if they’d match well and get along, ignore each other, or if they’d act aggressive and territorial.The host said, “Let’s bring Adam Singerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08919440993437796732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246666138259852.post-30929104417675860652022-05-10T22:07:00.005-04:002023-03-21T18:21:01.922-04:00The Twelve Days of COVIDOn the first day of COVID the CDC did say, “Remember stand 6 feet away.”On the second day of COVID the CDC may ask, “Please wear your mask, and remember stand 6 feet away.”On the third day of COVID the CDC demands, “Wash both your hands, please wear your mask, and remember stand 6 feet away.”On the fourth day of COVID the CDC’s routine: “Stay quarantined, wash both your hands, please wear your Adam Singerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08919440993437796732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246666138259852.post-58111773981029444792022-03-25T18:00:00.001-04:002022-03-26T16:39:00.933-04:00D’var ShminiThe many rules about how sacrifices are to be handled and what fire to use reminds me of the story of Rabbi Israel Baal Shem-Tov. When he saw misfortune threatening the Jews it was his custom to go into a certain part of the forest to meditate. There he would light a fire, say a special prayer, and the miracle would be accomplished, and the misfortune averted.
Later, when his disciple, the MagidAdam Singerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08919440993437796732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246666138259852.post-10108813621429746582021-12-20T19:35:00.001-05:002021-12-20T19:35:14.990-05:00A Forest WeddingIn a quiet glade in the forest, Janet the elk lived with her parents. She had recently met two potential suitors, and was planning to bring each back to meet her parents. Janet had grown fond of each in their way and was having trouble decided which one’s proposal to accept.The first afternoon, she brought along a deer named Harvey. Harvey arrived late and stomped into the glade without a single Adam Singerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08919440993437796732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246666138259852.post-85117180636848724492021-09-24T13:46:00.001-04:002022-10-06T19:11:36.302-04:00D’var Sukkot Shabbat Chol HamoedExodus 33:12-34:26This Saturday falls in the middle of the observance of Sukkot, so has a special parsha. We read from the book of Exodus from the end of chapter 33 into the beginning of 34. This is shortly after the incident with the golden calf.Moses is speaking with God. Among the requests he makes is to behold God’s presence.וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אֲנִ֨י אַעֲבִ֤יר כׇּל־טוּבִי֙ עַל־פָּנֶ֔יךָ וְקָרָ֧אתִֽי Adam Singerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08919440993437796732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246666138259852.post-27411789661920057732021-03-28T12:38:00.009-04:002021-03-30T20:23:25.208-04:00The Scolding of MosesPreparing for our seder this year, a thought struck me as I recalled the story of the Exodus from Egypt. What if Moses wasn’t supposed to run away to Midian? And how much more suffering was there because he did?The Verse Where It HappenedIn Exodus 2:11-15 we learn that Moses saves a Hebrew slave by killing the taskmaster, but then flees from Egypt. As we learn in Exodus 2:23 he remained away for Adam Singerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08919440993437796732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246666138259852.post-37253603341097581742020-11-18T14:17:00.002-05:002020-11-18T14:20:35.539-05:00News Limerick: Wisconsin Recount - November 18, 2020They'll count for the cost of three millionAnd that's an expensive cotillionThey'll all dance their partsBut end near their startsAnd Trump will become a civilianTrump campaign requests partial Wisconsin recount, deposits $3 million to challenge Biden victoryAdam Singerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08919440993437796732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246666138259852.post-25447234714863373092020-11-16T22:46:00.001-05:002020-11-16T22:46:52.505-05:00News Limerick: Hurricane Iota - November 16, 2020We’re up to a storm named Iota
They spring up like bubbles in soda
To slow climate change
We must rearrange
Swift action we must not say no to
Hurricane Iota the Second Catastrophic Strike in Two Weeks in Central AmericaAdam Singerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08919440993437796732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246666138259852.post-11982785158318668162020-11-15T12:43:00.007-05:002020-11-15T12:44:51.030-05:00News Limerick: Coronavirus autumn surge - November 15, 2020I’m filled with a sense of foreboding
The virus’ spread is exploding
Wear masks, wash your hands
Make long distance plans
With loved ones you long to be holding
New York Times: Tracking the Coronavirus OutbreakAdam Singerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08919440993437796732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246666138259852.post-20268163813845731222020-11-14T09:16:00.001-05:002020-11-15T12:44:13.845-05:00News Limerick: Student of History - November 14, 2020Think World War Two time Germany
Were socialists?! No, that can’t be!
That’s crazy at batsh*ts
Those Nazis were fascists!
I’m smarter than Senator T
Incoming GOP Senator Apparently Doesn’t Know Basics of World War IIAdam Singerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08919440993437796732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246666138259852.post-19140439164327185482020-11-14T06:57:00.002-05:002020-11-15T12:44:30.041-05:00News Limerick: Utah Bars - November 14, 2020It’s time for the bars to be closing
Despite all your preening and posing
To stop virus spread
Head home to your bed
At 10 PM? I’m usually dozing
Utah bars turn off the taps at 10, per new state health orderAdam Singerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08919440993437796732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246666138259852.post-59313399442964138932020-11-13T08:07:00.003-05:002020-11-13T08:07:33.968-05:00News Limerick: November 13, 2020A president sitting there sulkingIs nothing else shy of insultingSince votes are now inIt’s Biden whose winUnseated this wannabe dull kingAs Trump stews over election, he mostly ignores the public duties of the presidencyAdam Singerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08919440993437796732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246666138259852.post-16711224595502628222020-11-13T06:00:00.001-05:002020-11-13T06:00:04.393-05:00Space Limerick: Europa’s glowing dark sideEuropa may glow in the dark!
A Clipper is planned to embark
In five years or so
Then swiftly will go
To seek out life’s signature spark
Europa’s Nightside Glows in the DarkAdam Singerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08919440993437796732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246666138259852.post-7870608436084064192020-11-10T20:59:00.002-05:002020-11-11T19:08:26.438-05:00D'var Chayei SaraThis coming week, we’ll read parsha Chayei Sara, the life of Sarah. Of course, most parshot (as well as books) in the Torah are named for some of their first words. This is no exception. The second and third words are “chayei sara”. Then again, so are the eleventh and twelfth words, still within the first verse. In full, it reads:וַיִּהְיוּ֙ חַיֵּ֣י שָׂרָ֔ה מֵאָ֥ה שָׁנָ֛ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה Adam Singerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08919440993437796732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246666138259852.post-5189628539480366662020-03-13T16:21:00.001-04:002020-03-13T16:21:31.683-04:00Working from Home: In Iambic PentameterIf you should fail to find me here today
I hope you will not think I can’t be reached
Though circumstances make me stay away
My presence in the ether’s not decreased
I’m bringing all I need to work from home
You’ll find me via Slack and email too
And if you find you’re feeling quite alone
In Hangouts I can smile back at you
If you should wish to see where I will be
Please check my calendar Adam Singerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08919440993437796732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246666138259852.post-50286440338003350892020-03-08T19:06:00.000-04:002020-03-13T16:21:52.279-04:00Daf Yomi: Starting Tractate ShabbatBerakhot has taught us a lot
I’m glad that I gave it some thought
So now the daf yomi
Begins to feel homey:
We’re starting the tractate ‘Shabbat’
My Jewish Learning Daf YomiAdam Singerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08919440993437796732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246666138259852.post-81473752229055896462020-03-07T23:30:00.003-05:002020-11-10T21:06:20.488-05:00Swords and Fire limerick tributeHaving read the first two books of Melissa Caruso’s Swords and Fire trilogy, I wrote several limericks inspired by characters in the books.
There once was a Crow Lord from Let
Who kept other Witch Lords in debt
He courts a Cornaro
(To Marcello’s sorrow)
His wardrobe is all black as jet
Amalia’s a studious lass
Her coursework she’d flawlessly pass
In politics now
She proves hard to cow
Although Adam Singerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08919440993437796732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246666138259852.post-84678964483351067872020-02-25T15:38:00.000-05:002020-02-25T15:38:48.106-05:00D’var Misphatim
Today I’d like to talk to you about this past weekend’s parshah: Mishpatim. To do so, though, I’ll go one week farther back to Yitro to set the stage. At the end of Yitro, the tribes were camped out at the base of Mount Sinai, G-d has just spoken the ten commandments, and Moses has come down from the mountain to address the people. As he did, they
וְכָל־הָעָם֩ רֹאִ֨ים אֶת־הַקּוֹלֹ֜ת וְאֶת־Adam Singerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08919440993437796732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246666138259852.post-49240098098136467822020-02-01T23:01:00.000-05:002020-02-02T20:19:02.760-05:00Into the Black
Into the Black
The gradual awakening from artificial hibernation runs the gamut of emotions. You start out relaxed, still nearly flatlined by the drugs that slow down your biological processes. As soon as you realize your limbs don’t respond when you try to move them, you swiftly move through panic. Luckily, the susurrus ocean rain sounds keep you from careening into a total meltdown.
A pale Adam Singerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08919440993437796732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246666138259852.post-15746708207896768642020-01-09T07:27:00.001-05:002020-01-09T07:27:18.024-05:00News Limerick: Royal Family FeudSeems Harry and Meg want to quit
And soon from the crown they will split
But stealing the show?
The queen didn’t know!
And now they are both in deep trouble
Harry and Meghan aim to ‘step back’ as senior royals and split time between Britain and North AmericaAdam Singerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08919440993437796732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246666138259852.post-85766548966151550082019-08-21T06:46:00.001-04:002019-08-21T06:46:31.532-04:00Birthdays HappunFor your birthday, I decided to write some puns but I hope they aren’t so bad you want to punch or cake me. I just couldn’t candle it if they made you flee from my presents. If it’s all the flame to you, I’ll try really card to make it up to you. Maybe if there are enough of them you’ll forgift the whole thing.
[Written for my wife]Adam Singerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08919440993437796732noreply@blogger.com0