top of page


Search


Cracked: A Parable for Parshat Vayigash
#vayigash #parshatvayigash #genesis #breisheet #josephstory #yehudahandyosef #sonsofjacob #windshields #forgiveness #crackedwindshield #cracked #brokenglass The cliffhanger of Sefer Breisheet, which is Parshat Vayigash, has arrived. Yehudah bravely approaches the grand Yosef, and in a memorable speech he makes the brother’s case before the second -in- command of Egypt. Hearing the speech, Yosef can no longer perpetuate his complicated ruse and breaks down before his stunned

Leann Shamash
Dec 23, 20253 min read


Eight Points of Light
#chanukah #lights #chanukahlights #lightchanukahcandles #seethelight #findingthepositive #hanukkah #hannukah #ner #nerot #parshatmiketz #breisheet #positivity #australia Over the course of the past few months, where the Jewish community has been riding a roller coaster of highs and lows; our community experienced another blow as the holiday of Chanukah approached. I had planned this post well before the events in Australia took place on the eve of Chanukah while we are livi

Leann Shamash
Dec 16, 20253 min read


Siblings: Not For the Fainthearted
#vayeshev #vayeishev #parshatvayeishev #breisheet #seferbreisheet #joseph #esav #rivka #yitzhak #siblings #thetribesofisrael #jacob #leah #rachel #siblingrivalry #siblings #brothers #sisters #brothersandsisters Parshat Veyeishev finds us deep into the story of Yaakov and begins the sharp transition to the pivotal story of Yosef. Yaakov, perhaps accustomed to being brought up in a household where parents held favorites, slips easily into favoring Joseph, the son of his belov

Leann Shamash
Dec 9, 20253 min read


More Than Just a Name on a Page
#parshtvyishlach #parshatvayishlach #breisheet #seferbreisheet #dinah #leah #women #girls #violenceboutwomen When reading Parshat Vayishlach we read the story of the rape of Dinah by Shechem. The focus of the narrative is on Shechem's violence toward Dinah, his attraction to Dinah and then we read of the reactions of Ya'akov, the violence committed by Levi and Shimon. What we don't hear is the voice of Dinah. Midrashim are written about her, but where is her voice? Shabbat S

Leann Shamash
Dec 3, 20252 min read


There Are No Turkeys in Parshat Vayetzei, But There are Lots of Speckled Sheep!
#vayetzei #vayeitzei #vayetzeh #breisheet #yaakov #leah #thanksgiving #parshatvayetzei #parshatvayeitzei #genesis #sheepandturkeys #family #familiesanddystfunction In Parshat Vayetzei, after Yaakov has already fled his homeland to Haran, dreamt his dream of angels ascending and descending, fathered multiple children with two wives who happen to be sisters and their hand maidens, and worked for Lavan for many years, it feels like it is time to return home. Much time had passe

Leann Shamash
Nov 25, 20254 min read


A Day in the Life: Verb Stories
#toldot #parshattoldot #yitzhak #rivka #aisav #yaakov #birthright #blessings #blindness #breisheet #genesis #torahmusingss #wordshavewings Parshat Toldot brings us the puzzling and dramatic story of the birthright which is sold for a pot of red lentil stew to a ravenously hungry Asav from his twin brother (and excellent cook), Yaakov. The tale is shared concisely: Isaac favored Esau because he had a taste for game; but Rebekah favored Jacob. Once when Jacob was cooking a stew

Leann Shamash
Nov 18, 20254 min read


Lech Lecha: When it is Finally Time to Go
#breisheet #lechlecha #parshatlechlecha #avraham #sarai #genesis #parshathashavua #parashathashavua #journeys #downsizing #aging Parashat Lech Lecha is about journeys, but it is also a chance to learn more about the first pivotals figures in our long and storied history. Within these few chapters we discover more about the great Avram and Sarai. From the rabbis we learn about Avram's emunah , his deep belief, but through his actions we also learn about his conviction and co

Leann Shamash
Oct 28, 20253 min read


Come, Let Us Build
#babel #parashatnoach #ai #weapons #breisheet #genesis The Torah gives us two portions which bring us fascinating universal stories, which includes the story of Babel, found in Breishheet 11. Here we find humanity along with a new invention, bricks. How amazing to be able to build upward? Adding windows and doors and one has protection from the elements, but look, we can always build better! Higher and higher! Such a temptation to do more and more, using our skills. That ver

Leann Shamash
Oct 22, 20252 min read


The Torah of Hiking the Appalachian Trail
#breisheet #parshatbreisheet #seferbreisheet #appalachiantrail #hiking #thejoyofhiking #learning #chevruta #torahlearning #journeys #hiking #communities #limudtorah Happy Parashat Breisheet and welcome to a l Year and another step on the path of Limud Torah (Learning Torah) liiiiiiiiiiiilii iipiililillpp Ll Ll pop ill l pop This is a blog post about journeys and those who journey the hard way, by foot. I hope that you will read into it the parallels of the journey of Torah

Leann Shamash
Oct 16, 20255 min read


Seven Blessings
#blessings #parshatvayechi #parshatvayehi #sevenblessings #weddings #weddingblessings #breisheet #yaakov #blessingsofjacob A few weeks...

Leann Shamash
Jan 7, 20254 min read


The 500th Post of Words Have Wings: Collected Dreams
#breisheet #parshatmiketz #chanukah #wordshavewings #parshapoetry #Joseph #dreams #listening #payattention Dear Readers, Welcome to the...

Leann Shamash
Dec 24, 20243 min read


The Agunah: Parshat Vayeishev
#breisheet #parshatvayeishev #vayeishev Hello Readers, Welcome to the last part of Genesis where we explore the story of Joseph. Parshat...

Leann Shamash
Dec 18, 20244 min read


It's OK to Cry
#Vayigash #breisheet #joseph Someone I know posted on his Facebook feed this morning that today is October 78, 2023 , which is exactly...

Leann Shamash
Dec 20, 20232 min read


The Story of Joseph Through Images: A Gallery
#torahthroughimages #images #photographyandtorah #breisheet #joseph For the past number of weeks a group of women and I have been meeting...

Leann Shamash
Jan 9, 20234 min read


Leave
#leave #vayigash #breisheet #parshatvayigash #danger #threats #immigrants #riskinglives #hurricane #storm #war Parshat Vayigash is when...

Leann Shamash
Dec 26, 20222 min read


A Prayer For Wisdom
#environment #aprayer #yosef #miketz #breisheet #Genesis #parshatmiketz Parshat Miketz, the story of Joseph in Egypt continues with all...

Leann Shamash
Dec 20, 20223 min read


The Dream Weaver
#dreamweaver #dream #weaver #Vayeshev #breisheet #genesis An important part of Parshat Vayeshev is the concept of dreams. Yosef’s dreams...

Leann Shamash
Dec 16, 20222 min read


Coat of Many Colors
#coatofmanycolors #vayeshev #parshatvayeshev #coat #breisheet Parshat Vayishlach is perhaps one of the most interesting stories in the...

Leann Shamash
Dec 13, 20222 min read


Limp With Me To The Finish Line
#finishline #completion #eisav #jacob #limp #breisheet #friends #couples #races #race #papercups This little poem is inspired by Jacob's...

Leann Shamash
Dec 9, 20222 min read


The Silence of a Father; The Voice of a Daughter
#dina #jacob #deena #yaakov #vayishlach #genesis #breisheet #parshathashavua #parshapoetry #poetry #rape #silence #voice Dear Readers, I...

Leann Shamash
Dec 6, 20223 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.
Home: Subscribe
CONTACT
bottom of page