Torah -

When You Go Out To War — A poem for Parsha Ki Teitzei

August 20, 2026David Rutman

Ki Teitzei — when you go out (Deuteronomy 21:10–25:19) When you go out to war, be nice.Be nice when you get to the war.Be nice to the beautiful captives.Be nice to the trees of your enemies. When you go out to the wardress warmly. It is cold at the war.You don’t want your mother worryingyou’ll […]

I Can’t Always — A poem for Parsha Va’etchanan

July 23, 2026David Rutman

Va’etchanan — I entreated (Deuteronomy 3:23–7:11) As one who follows the teachingsof Jewish theologian and scholar Mick JaggerI have learned the Torah ofnot always getting what I want. I’m at the point where it sometimes feels likenot always becomes rarely ever. I have learned,like Moses, to ask earnestly, but, like to Moses,the response is uncomfortably […]

By Your Command – A poem for Parsha Tetzaveh

February 26, 2026David Rutman

Tetzaveh — command (Exodus 27:20–30:10) I don’t like to take commandsbut my bosses like to issue themand my mortgage likes to get paid. I say I don’t like to take commands,but I’m a rule follower – No one jaywalkson my watch without getting judged. I don’t like to take commands or evenissue them. I say […]

Comings and Goings – A poem for Parsha Vayetzei

November 27, 2025David Rutman

Vayetzei — And he went out (Genesis 28:10–32:3) And he went out from his homewith his stolen birthright and blessing And I went out from the East Coastwith golf pants and no particular direction. And he went out from an angry brotherand was saved by divine intervention. And I never wanted to go, buttweens have […]

In the Beginning – A poem for Parsha Breishit

October 16, 2025David Rutman

B’reishit — In the beginning (Genesis 1:1–6:8) In the beginning there was nothing andliterally everything had to be made. Now there is everything and peoplestill want more. Just yesterday I overheard someone say it tookseven days to make the world. Maybe it was on television oron a bus (though I wasn’t on a bus…) or […]

Smokey Presence – A poem for Parsha Pekudei

March 27, 2025David Rutman

The cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of God filled the Tabernacle. ~ Exodus 40:34 I bought a cocktail smoker recently.It is a pleasure to drink unadulterated whiskeyand a different pleasure to have oneinfused with the smoke of acacia woodor, more likely, oak. You place the smoker over the glassfill its basket […]

Fear and Loathing in the Desert – A poem for Parsha Ki Tisa

March 13, 2025David Rutman

Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face was radiant. They were afraid to approach him. ~ Exodus 34:30 We saw the Burning Bushon Moses’ face and wewere afraid of him. We desert bound peoplewho saw a sea partand frogs fall out of the sky We homeward-bound ex-slaveswho didn’t […]

Thirst – A poem for Parsha Beshalach

February 6, 2025David Rutman

God then said to Moses… “…You must strike the rock, and water will flow out of it and the people will drink.” Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. ~ Exodus 17:5-6 The fake politician who fashions himself like Godcame to California to survey what the fire had takenand told our […]

A New Plague – A poem for Parsha Vaera

January 23, 2025David Rutman

Moses raised his staff toward heaven. God gave forth thunder and hail, and fire came down to the ground inside the hail, and God rained down hail over Egypt. ~ Exodus 9:23 I don’t like thinking about plagues in Januarybut everything is against me. Open up any Torah to its current page and it’s nothing […]

The Mule Was Our Idea – A poem for Parsha Vayishlach

December 12, 2024David Rutman

These are the sons of Tziv’on: Ayah and Anah. It was Anah who discovered how to breed mules in the desert, when he was tending the donkeys for his father Tziv’on. ~ Genesis 36:24 So much innovation has come from the desert.First, we taught horses and donkeys to love each otherand mules came along, our […]