Written in honor and memory of Paul Rothman, Feivel Avram ben Ephraim z"l A humble man’s song, a psalm fit for a king. Breath of Life beyond time and space, Who resides with you in your tent? Who climbs and rides beside you on your rocky mountain high? One whose motives are pure, Whose objectives are simple, Whose methods are just, Whose words are true and from the heart. His tongue is unaccustomed to guile. Overlooking the faults of others, he can’t but speak well of neighbo

PSALM 5 – Persistence, A Devotional Song on Legacy Strings My words, heard? Utter wonder, speechless wisdom, uttered? Pleading voices waver in the wind and wonder, “My God, are you even aware? Who’s in charge? I’m trying to pray here! I’m talking to You!” It’s dawning now. Are you listening? Light stretching across the horizon, my longing reaches for you. And I wait, trusting that the wanting is not wanton or wicked, And that my worst – spouting lies, labels and libels, sh

PSALM 4 – For Persistence and Trust, with Melody and Devotion Is it fair? It is my call? Please answer. Respond honestly. Sorrow and strife Widen horizons and Grow the soul when we welcome grace, Listen with impassioned awareness. Hear my prayer. Sons of a man, so? What have you done with my dignity? Am I a nobody? Is my love worth nothing? My wants for naught? We know better. Discernment. Devotion. Heed my call. Shake off the stale shame of habits now lame and speak with so

PSALM 2 – To Shudder with Wondrous Joy Break from their yokes Nations doing what nations do Peoples bent on self-preservation Building towers to their pride Turn instead To tame and harness the power of your embarrassment and anger. Boundaries and borders shall fall And a new self will rise. Hivasru. Tremble and shudder Let the king in me bow my judgement submit to earth’s decree The skipper be lost And the strong and brave one shake with fear that the soul-self can serve You

PSALM 3 – Pruning for Love’s Sake When fear makes us run From promises of peace between father and son. God, so much tzurrus. So many voices shadowing my nefesh-self With tales of woe. Selah. Enough! It’s the shift, YaH, from me to You That returns me to the garden guarding my goodness, Restoring my כבוד-dignity, raising misery to mastery, Lifting my head. Wake the voice that calls to You, Spark my humble spirit, my capacity to respond, from the holy mountain with the gifts

PSALM 1: Meditation on Joy Ashrei ha’ish? Am I Happy? Who is happy? Lasting Happiness Comes When I see the yetzer’s lure For what it is And leave its counsel unheeded When I make space for another choice not settle for lazy ways, When soul is stirred with compassionate curiosity, with Your Torah, the beauty and intentionality in each detail of day and night, of absence and presence. There joy rises like water through roots of trees planted on the banks of steady-flowing stre