Day 303: Simchat Torah

Simchat Torah
By Batsheva 9/30/10

The ending of a cycle
Is what we celebrate
On a day called Simchat Torah
A holiday so great

But it isn't just an ending
It's a beginning too
When endings and beginnings
Come together as they do

We read the very last words
That are written in the Torah
And then we read the first words
And we sometimes dance the hora

We march with every Torah
We parade them up and down
They're all dressed up so fancy
Each one shows off its crown

We sing and dance and party
On this very special day
When the Torah comes full circle
We all want to shout hurray!

Day 302: Etrog

Etrog
By Batsheva 9/29/10

On Sukkot we use a special fruit
That's known as an etrog
Though Ashkenazim are inclined
To call it an esrog

But that is just its Hebrew name
It has others as well
In English it's a citron
And its story I will tell

The Torah says that if we take
This very lovely fruit
And hold it with our lulav
That's a sacred pursuit

For it represents the heart
Good deeds and Torah's wisdom too
And to throw away an etrog
Is a naughty thing to do

It looks much like a lemon
But I promise you it's not
For an etrog has a special thing
That no lemon has got

That thing is called a pitom
If it breaks, etrog's not kosher
Which can be quite a problem
You can't buy one from a grocier

Yes, you really need an etrog
If you're doing Sukkot right
Its delicious special fragrance
Is a holiday delight

Day 301: Stars Above

Stars Above
By Batsheva 9/28/10

On Sukkot we are reminded
In a wondrous sort of way
Of the love that God expresses
Every moment of each day

Most of the year we spend our time
In rooms with solid roofs
Which is fine
If all you're looking for
Are scientific proofs

But if you seek the truth
That's in your heart
Then nature is the wisest place
To start

A sukkah is required
To have a "holey" roof
Which may seem very strange
But it's really not a goof

Under solid roofs
Our safety's an illusion
In a sukkah we may reach
A new conclusion

When through a ceiling
We can see the stars
We see that our security's
Not ours

So a good way to remember
God's great love
Is looking through a roof
To see the stars above.

Day 300: Rain in the Sukkah

Rain in the Sukkah
By Batsheva 9/27/10

When it rains in the sukkah
You can't eat or sleep in it
And that can be frustrating
More than just a little bit

But when it rains in the sukkah
The best thing I can say
Is to eat and sleep
Where it's warm and dry
And have fun anyway!

Day 299 (Delayed): My Lulav

My Lulav
By Batsheva 9/26/10

My lulav looks just like a sword
'Til it sways in the breeze
How can my lulav do this?
Because it's made of leaves!

Pieces of a palm tree
Myrtle, willow too
On Sukkot, I wave my lulav
It's the Jewish thing to do

The lulav represents the parts
Of us with which we praise
Acknowledging God's wonders
In very different ways

Palm represents the spine
Myrtle, lips, and willow, eyes
The etrog's like a human heart
(Or a lemon in disguise)

We put them all together
And we wave them all around
We wave in all directions
For that's where God is found

Day 298: Oops?

Oops?
By Batsheva 9/25/10

We built a lovely sukkah
Just as pretty as can be
A warm, inviting sukkah
As anyone can see

The walls are nice and sturdy
The frame is sure and strong
Decorations are delightful
But something does seem wrong

I hate to be a critic
But someone made a goof
For though our sukkah's awesome
It has holes in the roof!

Day 297: Sukkot

Sukkot
By Batsheva 9/24/10

Let's all build a sukkah
It's easy if you try
Let's all build a sukkah
Though you may wonder why

We build them to remember
How our ancestors all moved
For forty years in the desert
They wandered as they grooved

They had no stable homes
For shelter from a storm
They lived in fragile huts
Impermanence was the norm

And even when they settled
Home in the Promised Land
Farmers moved onto their fields
With harvest time at hand

So today we build a sukkah
To remember all these things
The harvest and the wandering
And all the joys life brings

Day 296 (Delayed): Sukkah Pain

Sukkah Pain
By Batsheva 9/23/10

Build your sukkah
Then decorate
Until it looks so very great

Next thing you know
Comes wind and rain
Sometimes life is such a pain!

Day 295 (Delayed): Cliches

Cliches
By Batsheva 9/22/10

You can't teach an old dog new tricks
But it's never too late to learn
Cliches don't have the answers
But they're everywhere you turn
Some folks say that haste makes waste
Others say fish or cut bait
Cliches are inconsistent
And they're open to debate
Which means if honest answers
You should seek
Remember that the truth's
Always unique

Day 294: Fighting Fire

Fighting Fire
By Batsheva 9/21/10

Fight fire with fire
So they say
But that doesn't seem
To be the way
No
In fact, I really think you oughta
(When putting out a fire)
Try using water

Day 293 (Delayed): Do Not Argue with the Rain

Do Not Argue with the Rain
By Batsheva 9/20/10

Do not argue with the rain
There's really not a thing to gain
The rain will fall
Despite it all
So if you want to be a clever fella
Don't argue with the rain
Use an umbrella

Day 292 (Delayed): Success

Success
By Batsheva 9/19/10

A person isn't "A success"
That's not something you are
For we all have wins and losses
No one doesn't bear a scar

Success is something to achieve
A goal for which to strive
It's earned in bits and pieces
Just as long as we're alive

It's not about your money
Or your prestige or power
It's about the way you live your life
Each day and every hour

Are you honest?
Are you loyal
And persistent?
Are you kind?
Are you grateful and hard-working?
Do you make up your own mind?

If life gives you a challenge
And you accept it
With a, "Yes!"
Then you can proudly smile
Knowing you've achieved success

Day 291: Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur
By Batsheva 9/18/10

On Yom Kippur
We apologize
For the bad things that we did
The things that others knew about
And even those we hid
We're sorry for our secret sins
'Cause though it may seem odd
There's nothing in this whole wide world
That's secret from our God
And we are all God's children
So when you hurt your friends
God cannot forgive you
Until you make amends
Which means saying you're sorry
To the people that you hurt
And God will hear your sorries
Since God's always alert
And then on holy Yom Kippur
God's mercy we receive
If humbly we request it
Yes, that's what we believe

Day 290: The World is Always Changing

The World is Always Changing
By Batsheva 9/17/10

The world is always changing
So are you
And so am I
So when I crave consistency
I have to heave a sigh

It's just so rare to find it
On this planet where we live
This ever-changing world of ours
Is so hard to forgive

For we seek what's sure and certain
And we get a question mark
As a baby seeks his mama
But can't find her in the dark

Yet the world is always changing
So perhaps we should accept
That at navigating changes
We should strive to be adept

And whenever a decision
We must make
We should consider just what form
A change might take

For the impact that we make
Upon this earth
Will help determine just how much
Our lives were worth

Day 289: A Pencil

A Pencil
By Batsheva 9/16/10

A pencil's just a piece of wood
With graphite in its middle
But if you think it doesn't matter
Then I think you know quite little

For a pencil is as mighty as a pen
But even more
It can do most of the same things
And it's much less of a chore

Yes, a pencil makes things easy
When you find you must erase
Which can save you from embarrassment
Frustration and disgrace

If your writing must be permanent
Then a pencil's not your choice
But otherwise, a pencil is
A reason to rejoice

Day 288: Salmon Patties

Salmon Patties
By Batsheva 9/15/10

I make my salmon patties
In most every shape and size
But their taste is all that matters
To people who are wise

Some are oval
Some are round
Some are rhomboid
Some are square
Some are thick
And some are thin
But one batter
They all share

My salmon patties really are
My cooking claim to fame
For though each one looks different
They're deliciously the same

Day 287 (Delayed): Chalk pictures

Chalk Pictures
By Batsheva 9/14/10

Draw pictures on the sidewalk
In brightly colored chalk
The neighbors will enjoy it
When they're out taking a walk

Don't worry that the rain will come
To wash your work away
Chalk pictures aren't meant to last
Draw more another day

Day 286 (Delayed): Catching Up

Catching Up
By Batsheva 9/13/10

Catching up can be so hard
And this is why I find
That everything is easier
If you just don't get behind

Day 285 (Delayed): Sorry

Sorry
By Batsheva 9/12/10

"Sorry" is a magic word
I know because I've seen it
Make a world of difference
But only when you mean it

Day 284 (Delayed): Ten Days

Ten Days
By Batsheva 9/11/10

There are ten important days from
Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur
We call them the Ten Days of Awe
And they're serious, for sure

They're Ten Days of Repentance
In Hebrew, Teshuvah
We turn from bad and turn towards good
During these Days of Awe

We think about the things we did
Throughout the year that's passed
And how to make this brand new year
Much better than the last

We ask others for forgiveness
If we've ever done them wrong
Getting ready for Yom Kippur
We spend the ten days long

Day 283 (Delayed): Apples and Honey

Apples and Honey
By Batsheva 9/10/10

You know it's Rosh Hashanah
The start of a new year
And I'm hoping for a sweet one
Full of happiness and cheer

So let's cut up some apples
In honey then we'll dip
I can't wait to taste that sweetness
As it lingers on my lip

Such sweetness is a symbol
Of that for which we pray
A year of yummy goodness
In every single way

Day 282 (Delayed): Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah
By Batsheva 9/9/10

Rosh Hashanah
Means Head of the Year
It's the Jewish New Year
That's very clear
But what do we do
When our year is new?
Do we have blasts at parties
Or paint ourselves blue?
Do we sing Auld Lang Syne
Or watch a ball drop?
Do grown-ups open champagne
With a pop?
No.
We pray a lot
And wouldn't you know
Our New Year's blasts
Come from the shofar blow
The shofar is a horn from a ram
And its blast reminds me
Of who I am
It wakes my mind
Reminding me to
Ask forgiveness
For wrong things I do
The sins of last year
Are over and gone
And now we start fresh
With the New Year's dawn

Day 281 (Delayed): Ice

Ice
By Batsheva 9/8/10

When water gets extremely cold
It turns into ice
So I've been told
And on a hot day
I have to say
(I could even say it twice)
Ice is nice!

Day 280: The Substitute

The Substitute
By Batsheva 9/7/10

Sometimes things are not so cute
For a teacher who's a substitute
You don't know the students
They'll tease you and laugh
Make fun of your name
And attack any gaffe
They won't pay attention
Or do all their work
And even the best one
Can act like a jerk
But. . .
Sometimes they'll listen
And sometimes they'll learn
And he'll be respectful
And she'll wait her turn
In just a few hours
A good class can start
To charmingly work
Their way into your heart
They might draw sweet pictures
Butterfly, rose, or bear cub
And write at the top:
"A gift for my dear sub"
When things like this happen
(It's rare but they do)
Then being a sub is a joy
Through and through
Yes, sometimes things can be so cute
For a teacher who's a substitute

Day 279: Two Waves

Two Waves
By Batsheva 9/6/10

Two waves in the sea
Were rolling peacefully
When suddenly they both
Spotted the shore
They were watching as waves crashed
In the distance
They were dashed
One, frightened, cried
"We won't wave anymore!"

The other said,
"Don't fear
Things are not as they appear."

Said the first,
"Do you not see we'll crash and die?"

"I see waves crash, I cannot lie
But that doesn't mean we'll die
The trouble is you don't know who you are
You think you are a wave
So you are heading toward your grave
But you must know you're so much more than motion
You and I are part of this great ocean
And so my friend, relax, and stop your cries
Because you know
The ocean
Never dies."

Day 278: Blabbering Beth

Blabbering Beth
By Batsheva 9/5/10

Blabbering Beth
Could talk you to death
She could talk about most anything
She could talk about milk
Or how they make silk
Or the tones of a telephone's ring
She could talk about candy
Or whatever's handy
She could talk 'til your ears were sore
Yes, her mouth was her ruin
Then one day a bird flew in
Now Beth's not blabbering anymore

Day 277 (Delayed): Change

Change
By Batsheva 9/4/10

Nothing in life stays exactly the same
Change is always the name of the game
And even if you think
That nothing's changing
It nonetheless
Is subtly rearranging
So when life is feeling static
Like the text within a book
Examine it more closely
With a second or third look
And eventually
You'll see it's true though strange
That we are living in a world
Of constant change

Day 276: For My Husband

For My Husband on our Anniversary
By Batsheva 9/3/10

I never really knew love
'Til you came into my life
But I found a wondrous true love
When you chose me as your wife
And every single day
I love you just a little more
And every day I pray
When you step outside our door
That God will always bring you
Safely back to me
For I treasure every thing
You have allowed my soul to see
And the joy within my heart
That you have planted
I promise not to start
Taking for granted

Though this conclusion
May seem cursory
I just had to add
Happy Anniversary!

Day 275 (Delayed): Praying Mantis

Praying Mantis
By Batsheva 9/2/10

A praying mantis strolled
Across my window yesterday
And it really got me thinking
Why does the mantis pray?

Is it praying for peace?
That our troubles will cease?
Is it praying for money?
Now, that would be funny!

No, I think the mantis
Might decide
To pray about
Some pesticide
But in truth
I really have to say
Praying mantis only
Looks that way

'Cause tell me
Don't you think it would be odd
If an insect like the mantis
Talked to God?

Day 274 (Delayed): Who Uses Math?

Who Uses Math
By Batsheva 9/1/10

Who uses math?
A botanist
A sculptor
A geologist
A nurse
Or a physician
A dentist
Or beautician
An interior designer
An engineer
A miner
An astronaut
A painter
A businessman
A trainer
A mechanic
A bartender
A baker
A defender
A soldier
Or a sailor
An athlete
Or a whaler
A pilot
A zoologist
A chef
Or a biologist
A diver
Oceanographer
A chemist
A cartographer
An architect
A teacher
Some days even a preacher
An accountant
Or a housewife
Math really helps you
Get through life

Who uses math?
I'll tell you
Though you may not
Think it's fun
The answer to the question
"Who uses math?"
Is everyone

Day 273 (Delayed): Punctuation Celebration

Punctuation Celebration
By Batsheva 8/31/10

Periods and commas
You can use in your pajamas
They're common and they're easy
And without them
Folks get queasy
'Cause that makes it hard to know
When to stop and take a breath
And skimping on your breathing
Can simply lead to death
So believe me when I say
It's very serious
If you're forgetting all your commas
And your periods

Now you must know an exclamation point
Will really liven up the joint
When the thing you have to say
Is quite exciting in some way

And when you have a question
Always use a question mark
For if you don't
I'm sure you will be eaten by a shark
Or maybe not
But they'll take you to task
If folks think you're stating something
You should ask

Yes, punctuation is delightful
And without it
Life gets frightful
When writing the shortest note
Or the longest tome
The only place you can escape it
Is a poem