My recent posts…

Parshat Lech-Lecha 5785

We make assumptions about others based on what we see: what they wear, what they drive, their work, past-times… And we project upon the other who passes our superficial entrance exam what we want them to be — i.e., more like us!

Yom Kippur Singing

My recent posts...Over the decades, I have composed melodies for some of the texts we use in our prayer services. (I've written English interpretations of the texts for a few of them.) Some of them are posted here so we can sing them together at Shirat Hayam and, even...

It’s Pilpul*! It’s Poetry! It’s Purim!

Mar 10, 2017

Two writes don’t make a wrong.
Two wrongs don’t make a right.
No right on red, don’t lose your head.

Three stars do make a night.
Three rights might make a left,
try not to lose your mind.
Don’t get ahead of your own self,
you might be left behind.

Purim is on fourteen Adar,
but if ancient wall surrounds the city of your house and car,
on the morrow, grogger sounds!

Give alms to poor,
gifts of food to friends,
and hear the story: how Esther and Mordechai — oh, how good! — saved the Jews and rose to glory.

Festively feast until you’re sated,
dress up as clown or lemur.
Be joyful, be happily inebriated!

— Rabbi Jonathan & Ellie Kremer *Pilpul: rabbinic sillygism