This fence around TorahThe Five Books of Moses, and the foundation of all of Jewish life and lore. The Torah is considered the heart and soul of the Jewish people, and study of the Torah is a high mitzvah. The Torah itself a scroll that is hand lettered on parchment, elaborately dressed and decorated, and stored in a decorative ark. It is chanted aloud on Mondays, Thursdays, and Shabbat, according to a yearly cycle. Sometimes "Torah" is used as a colloquial term for Jewish learning and narrative in general..
Can women and children peak through?
Is there a door for doubters and strangers?
A way in for the serially abused?
Is its wood beige and blended in?
Or from trees with roots of many different accents and hints?
True, the fence was first meant to keep us in.
The People who fell easily to idols.
Whose stiff-neck led us into wilderness and sin.
And yet, the fence was broken
To invite the poor into the sukkahLit. hut or booth A temporary hut constructed outdoors for use during Sukkot, the autumn harvest festival. Many Jews observe the mitzvah of living in the Sukkah for the week of Sukkot, including taking their meals and sleeping in the Sukkah..
Servants into the field.
And G-d, out, into the world.
The gulf between judgment and protection is best filled by human beings
Who paint the fence,
Take up the fence.
And through their work and being, renew Torah.
