We are very excited that Varda has agreed to share several of her writings with us and here’s the first. Varda is a wonderful writer and poet that has been published in many places. Her book of collected writings, “In the Night I Remembered your Name” is one of my favorites.

We’re lucky to have her here in Jerusalem. Although Varda is a woman of substance with great spiritual depths, she brings out the fun in me. We have been frequently asked if we are sisters. Being the same good height, we are a great dancing duo at weddings. Her houseful of wonderful children and now grandkids is a inspiration. When I asked her how to describe her, she answered “a fool looking for wisdom!”

We would like for you to react to her poems and will be posting two more in the hear future. What do they bring up for you? See mine below and enjoy!

The Perfumer’s Craft

Exquisite sensitivies
Smell divided and divided again
To its separate tones
You allow me to travel paths
Disappearing over horizon
Orange and purple
The perfumer puts on the stopper
Like a trap
The bottles in rows, maybe numbered
Or named “Lotus,” “Passion Petal,”
“Hibiscus”
The first draft of their final
Identity
They swirl in possibilities
Touching each other
Through glass

Your pancakes are emuna* pancakes
Each bite increases
My emunah
Please give
Me the recipe
(* Emuna = Faith)

I enjoyed this poem as it reminds me of the alchemal effect Varda and several other special friends have on me. Each of us has our own unique perfume and when we touch, there is a possibility for a whole new blend. I work with lots of serious stuff.I have the potential of putting the stopper on some of my best feelings as a result. When I get together with one of my alchemal friends, I can feel the bubbles start up from my bottles of joy.Varda and I once attended a workshop that was quite serious. At the end of the session, there was a silent excercise done in pairs. Varda was my partner. I could feel the funny joy start to bubble. I held it in to be “correct” until I felt Varda shaking. We both broke out in uncontrolable giggles of pure joy. The more we tried to stop, the more they bubbled and fizzled out through the cracks until the whole room was perfumed. It was contagious and unstopped all the bottles of giggle in the room. We all left refreshed and renewed.This poem reminds be to keep the faith and not be afraid to serve others pieces of my best self.

Let’s hear from you!

Shoshana