To my dearest cousin on the occasion of her daughter receiving her first Siddur.
– 1/31/2017

I Give You Torah
by Carl Josehart

My darling child
many things I gave you seem
temporary
as I look back on them now
food eaten and gone
clothes you grew out of
toys you no longer use to play
But two things I gave you go with you
Forever
even when I cannot be near
I gave you love
I gave you Torah
pass them on

Thank you
dear mother
for the many things you gave me
food to nourish my growing body
an education to nourish my growing mind
love to nourish a growing capacity to care
and Torah to nourish a growing soul
Now
here is my child
help me as I
pass them on

Mothers and the Almighty
Eternal partners in parenting
milk
honey sweetness
from words of Torah
to nourish our young
heart and mind
body and soul
to keep them strong
even when we cannot
be near

My dear child
I look at
your fragile little body and see
the next link in an ancient chain
your expanding intellect
the storehouse to come of our national treasures
your unblemished heart
full of compassion and love
your perfect soul
full of wonder and praise
My darling child
I give you love and
I give you Torah
pass them on