After the individual sagas that comprise so much of Genesis — Joseph’s story alone consumes the better part of 19 chapters — the speed at which the Israelites’ fortune reverses at the beginning of Exodus is stunning. And all it takes is one verse. In this week’s portion, Parashat Sh’mot , we read: “A new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.” ( Ex.1:8 )
I wrote this poem in honor of a dear man, a beloved pillar of my synagogue who died last week, thinking "after the words, after the music, after our very breath - what comes after that we can continue to praise God?"
In this week’s Torah portion, just as Moses cries out to the Eternal to heal Miriam, his sister, so, too, does poet Stacey Zisook Robinson pray for her own healing.