Muse

Parshat/Torah Portion Bo (Come to Pharaoh) talks about crying out to the Lord: "a loud cry in all Mitzrayim". A couple of parshiyot /Torah portions before that, when the Divine calls out to Moses from the Burning Bush, the Voice says, among other life  and world changing statements, "I have heard their outcry". The  word used for both instances of crying out due to  suffering is the same: tzaakah. I thought to myself, "There must be a hint here; why else use the same word?"

Shemot/Names 

When naming our two cats, our daughters chose from names they had picked out in anticipation, should the time come to adopt our next furry family. How were the names assigned?

Teshuvah/Returning 

c. Yael Fischman, 2024

But I don't want

to return

to repeat the pattern

the circular staircase

ruin and recrimination.

I want- oh how I want-

to start again, (See more at https://www.renaissancewomankippot.org)

Legends concerning Miriam often involve a magical well which sprang up and followed her wherever she went. Some  stories even say that she was a water witch, gifted with locating actual water where there was none: a very useful skill in the desert, yes?

She was also the one who had the vision to have the women pack their timbrels in order to celebrate their redemption at the shores of the Red/Reed Sea.

If Miriam impresses you also, please take a look at this headdress style kippah created in her honor!

www.renaissancewomankippot.org

An element of godliness is present in the relationship between Ruth and Naomi...

I wrote this poem several years ago, when life seemed normal and the cycles of life well known. Now, the counting of the Omer, the days until we receive the Torah ( have we ever truly received it?) are linked with other counting, and ominous countdowns. But we've been here before, too, and here we are again. Hopefully, we will learn.