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The Torah of Hospital Corners
#tzav #ritual #sacrifice #leviticus #vayikra #parsha #wordshavewings #sheets #memories #hospitalcorners #everydaythings #thingswedo #brushingourteeth #makingthebed #torah #seder #passover #order #orderliness #rituals #ritual Is it any surprise that Parshat Tzav comes in advance of Pesach? For both Pesach and Shabbat have something in common and that is that in life there is a certain order to things. In the case of Korbanot, you can be sure that whether it is the Korban Toda
Leann Shamash
4 hours ago4 min read
Art of The Song of Songs
#songofsongs #artofthesongofsongs #shirhashirim #passover #shirhashirimasherlshlomo Springtime Greetings To You, Over the course of six snowy weeks this winter a group of us approached the book of The Song of Songs with the thought that its vibrantly colored passages would be a great base for creating art. We understood that the Song of Song for some represents that love of Gd for the Jewish people, and was understood by others to be a love poem. We spent time with this parti
Leann Shamash
2 days ago7 min read
The Onion of Vayikra and Lessons From Torah Doodles
#vayikra #parshatvayikra #leviticus #thelawsofthekohanim #sacrifice #ididntnotice #didntpayattention #whatwedontnotice #easiertoignore Hello Everyone, No poem this week; just a few observations. I hope they resonate with you as we begin the middle book of the Torah, Sefer Vayikra. OBSERVATION ONE Each week for the past 2 1/2 years, a small group of us have studied the parsha together online. I present themes from the parsha and things that I am curious about, and the partici
Leann Shamash
Mar 173 min read
For Those
#vayakhel #forthose #volunteering #helping #parshatvayakhel #pekudei #vayakhelpekudei #thecandygiver For some of you who have been following this blog for a while, you will perhaps recognize this as a post from 2022. Here we are in 2026 and I think it is worthwhile to repost this as it is as true today as it was then. The combined Parshiyot of Vayakhel/Pekudei complete Sefer Shemot (Exodus) in a quietly magnificent way. The Mishkan is complete and Moshe gives it his blessing
Leann Shamash
Mar 114 min read
Skipping Stones
#kitisa #sefershemot #exodus #parshatkitisa #skippingstones #parable There is so much good and beauty in Parshat Ki Tisa. The artistry of Betzalel and Ohaliab are noted, the holy sabbath is described and we have an unforgettable and mystical scene where Moshe asks to see God. This final piece of Parshat Ki Tisa comes only after the incident of The Golden Calf with Moses begging for forgiveness for this people who grievously erred. When the people saw that Moses was so long i
Leann Shamash
Mar 33 min read
You're Never Fully Dressed Without Your Smile
#tetzaveh #parshattetzaveh #sefershemot #shemot #exodus #kohanim #highpriest #clothing #clothingandidentity #smile #yourneverfullydressedwithoutasmile #brimfieldfair This week's parsha, Teztaveh, is a continuation of the involved shopping list and directions for artists and artisans to create the Mishkan. Last week, in Parshat Terumah, we spoke about the space of the Mishkan. This week we encounter the details for how the Kohanim will dress. "These are the vestments they are
Leann Shamash
Feb 245 min read
Spaces
#terumah #parshatterumah #exodus #sefershemot #shemot #mishkan #tabernacle #thatImaydwellamongthem #directions #gold #spices In Parshat Terumah we find God giving explicit and lengthy instruction for building a place for Gd on earth. וְעָ֥שׂוּ לִ֖י מִקְדָּ֑שׁ וְשָׁכַנְתִּ֖י בְּתוֹכָֽם׃ And let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them. Exodus 25:8 We will spend much time on the details of this place on earth that Gd will call home, but th
Leann Shamash
Feb 183 min read
Imagine a Place
#mishpatim #sanctuarycities #ICE #thestatueofiberty #refugees #politicalescapees #welcoming #immigrants Parshat Mishpatim brings us to the point where the Hebrews enter into the fine print after witnessing the Ten Utterances . As readers of the weekly Parsha, the days of narrative and dialogue are behind us for now, and we are entering into a Parsha of listed laws . It is not surprising that these laws begin with laws governing slavery, as laws regarding the keeping and tre
Leann Shamash
Feb 113 min read
The Sound and The Stillness
#yitro #parshatyitro #sefershemot #shemot #Aserethadibrot #mtsinai #givingofthelaw #thetencommandments I guess I can’t separate this particular blog post from the fact that our world is so full of noise. The noise of the news each day and the subsequent feeling that this constant noise surrounding us creates a sense of fear and foreboding. Parshat Yitro is named for Moshe’s wise and insightful father-in-law, but central to this Parsha is the giving of The Aseret Hadibrot . W
Leann Shamash
Feb 44 min read
Welcome to "Words Have Wings."
During the year following the death of a parent it is their children's responsibility to say the kaddish. This blog is a series of reflections while saying the kaddish for my late mother, Irma Gershkowitz.
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