Collections of Thoughts and Poetry

#chanukah #parshatvayeishev #bethelight This poem is to mark Chag Haurim, the holiday of Chanukah which will begin on Thursday evening at...

There is so much to write about in this parsha; so much to savor and learn from. A brief review of the Parsha reminds us of Yaakov's...

written with gratitude and respect for this United States, my home, and for my good countrymen and neighbors with whom I share this...

Parshat Veyeitzei : Genesis 28:10-32:3 Dear Readers, This post is not poetry, but asking you to be the imaginary photographer in this...

Before yesterday, November 14, 2023, becomes history, I wanted to write this post and present a (very imperfect and incomplete) set of...

Parshat Chayei Sarah begins with the announcement of the death of Sarah followed by Avraham's subsequent actions, including mourning his...

This poem is for the Siyum of Masechet Kiddushin, which was completed yesterday in the Daf Yomi cycle. Today a new order was begun,...

Parshat Vayera contains the stories of three women. The first is the story of Lot’s wife, who fled S'dom with her husband Lot, before...

Parshat Lech Lecha is about journeys. The parsha starts out with a directive to Abram to leave that which was familiar to him, his...

On October 14, 2023, an annular solar eclipse was seen in parts of the United States. This was a partial eclipse of the sun, but it...

October 17, 2023 This is a reprint of a post that I wrote three years ago for Parshat Noach. Somehow it feels that I should repeat it...

Usually Parshat Breisheet, the first parsha of the year, is a joy to write about. The wonder of new beginnings is where I ordinarily...

the pendulum swings dependably left right right left again ...

This Shabbat we will read the parsha V'Zot Habracha. In this short parsha, Moshe blesses the tribes, much as Ya'akov did in the book of...

What could be finer than the holiday of Sukkot which follows on the coattails or Rosh HaShannah and Yom Kippur. As we make transitions...

#parshatkitavo Parshat Ki Tavo is known for its blessings and curses. Although the blessings and curses take up a good part of this...

Blog posts on Words Have Wings usually take between two to five minutes to read. This post will take you longer to read, but I hope it...

Parshat Shoftim is an important and relevant parsha, largely focusing on the the three pillars of leadership in the community, the king, the priests and the judges. This parsha makes clear the qualities that each type of leader should posses and emphasizes that leadership requires sacrifice, impeccable morality and deeds of unselfishness, all for the sake of the greater good. Being a king is less about glory and majesty and more about being a servant of the people. Alas, it

As it has been my custom since beginning to learn Daf Yomi more than three years ago, I deliver a poem when we finish a Masechet (a...

Re'eh means"see." In Parshat Re'eh we learn about making sacrifices once the people enter the land. The people are told to bring their...