Chayei Sarah from 2014

My son and I were discussing the concept of “death of history by an invisible force” in reference to residents of the area in Japan devastated by the tsunami and the consequent disaster with the nuclear power plant. The children of many of the residents who remained there are unwilling to visit the area and, as a result, their stories are not being passed from generation to generation. Sharing our stories with our children is at the core of Jewish tradition. And, yet, even for us, even in Torah, there are histories that have been forgotten.

 

 

When I read slowly--
Here beside the well-known tale,
Other names and lives.

Vayera from 2013

It was not easy to select this week's haiku. This is a rich and deep Torah portion with enough narrative to write several books. I debated between the one below and a haiku that speaks of Abraham and Sarah's open tent as a symbol of being open to what and who the world brings to our thresholds. That haiku speaks to me of optimism and excitement.   Ultimately, I selected this haiku because it  captures the majesty and mystery of being truly open to life's experiences with all of our known and unknown senses. 

What was it he heard?
That voice on the dusty plain
Calling him to act.

Lech L'cha from 2016

Drawn by the inherent wisdom of this haiku, I found myself wondering what is in the text that inspired these thoughts?  After all, this text is most known for Abraham’s response to the call to leave his home and seek the new land promised to him and his descendants. So, I re-read the parsha. Abraham’s journey does not end when he reaches that new land. He goes down into Egypt and then back up. In 13:3, we find this remarkable verse: “And he proceeded by stages from the Negeb as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been formerly…”  Perhaps this is why in Japanese there is a generic verb “to return” and a different verb “to return to the place where one belongs.” 

 

Once you have been there
You can speak of returning.
Though the path may change.