“Rabbi Yehoshua would say: A foolish man of piety ……is among people who erode the world.”

~ Sotah 21:b

“This incident [of the stabbing of a Kohein] comes to teach you that the ritual purity of utensils was of more concern to them than the shedding of blood.”

~ Yoma 23:a

morning rays

pour through the courtroom’s

stain-glassed windows

//

a slam of the gavel

silences the skipping heartbeat

of the accused

//

beads of sweat

glisten on his forehead

and dance to the sound of crickets

from within the jury’s box

//

again the gavel’s slam

while the chirping jury

unanimously

verifies the veracity

of the verdict

//

“you will be thrown the book

for sticking to the book”

they proclaim

//

while his own defense attorney

slams the gavel

once again.