On Legacy...
Taylor Swift, Long Live
Long live the walls we crashed throughHow the kingdom lights shined just for me and youI was screaming, "Long live all the magic we made"And bring on all the pretenders, I'm not afraidLong live all the mountains we movedI had the time of my life fighting dragons with youI was screaming, "Long live the look on your face"And bring on all the pretendersOne day we will be remembered
Questions: What is Taylor Swift saying about legacy? How do you ensure that you will be remembered?
שְׁמֹ֣ר וְשָׁמַעְתָּ֗ אֵ֚ת כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י מְצַוֶּ֑ךָּ לְמַ֩עַן֩ יִיטַ֨ב לְךָ֜ וּלְבָנֶ֤יךָ אַחֲרֶ֙יךָ֙ עַד־עוֹלָ֔ם כִּ֤י תַעֲשֶׂה֙ הַטּ֣וֹב וְהַיָּשָׁ֔ר בְּעֵינֵ֖י יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃ {ס}
Be careful to heed all these commandments that I enjoin upon you; thus it will go well with you and with your descendants after you forever, for you will be doing what is good and right in the sight of your God.
Question: What is the parasha saying about legacy? How do you ensure your legacy lives on?
On Apologies and Forgivness...
Taylor Swift, Bad Blood
'Cause baby, now we got bad bloodYou know it used to be mad loveSo take a look what you've done'Cause baby, now we got bad blood (hey!)
Now we got problemsAnd I don't think we can solve 'emYou made a really deep cutAnd baby, now we got bad blood (hey!)
Band-aids don't fix bullet holesYou say sorry just for showIf you live like that, you live with ghosts (ghosts, ghosts)
Taylor Swift, Betty
Betty, I won't make assumptionsAbout why you switched your homeroom butI think it's 'cause of meBetty, one time I was riding on my skateboardWhen I passed your houseIt's like I couldn't breathe
You heard the rumors from InezYou can't believe a word she saysMost times, but this time it was trueThe worst thing that I ever didWas what I did to you
But if I just showed up at your partyWould you have me?Would you want me?Would you tell me to go f*ck myself?Or lead me to the garden?In the garden would you trust meIf I told you it was just a summer thing?I'm only 17, I don't know anythingBut I know I miss you
Question: What is Taylor Swift saying about the nature of apologizing and forgivness?
Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, Making Amends to Someone Who Can’t Hear Your Apology
…the repentance process in Judaism—with the elements of public confession, beginning to change, amends, apology, and making different choices—is profoundly victim-centric. Amends and apologies do not happen at harmed people, but, in many or most cases, in relationship with them. The process can be an opportunity for the harmdoer to both own their actions and to also to get outside of their own perspective and comprehension of what happened; to understand their impact more deeply.
Question: What is the nature of apology and forgivness, according to Rabbi Ruttenberg? How does it compare and contrast with Taylor's view?
...וּבְשָׁעָה שֶׁמְּבַקֵּשׁ מִמֶּנּוּ הַחוֹטֵא לִמְחל מוֹחֵל בְּלֵב שָׁלֵם וּבְנֶפֶשׁ חֲפֵצָה. וַאֲפִלּוּ הֵצֵר לוֹ וְחָטָא לוֹ הַרְבֵּה לֹא יִקֹּם וְלֹא יִטֹּר...
...when a sinner implores him for pardon, he should grant him pardon wholeheartedly and soulfully. Even if one persecuted him and sinned against him exceedingly he should not be vengeful and grudge-bearing...
Question: What is our obligation as the person being asked for forgivness? Are some things unforgivable?
On Waking Up...
Taylor Swift, You Belong With Me
She wears high heelsI wear sneakersShe's Cheer Captain, and I'm on the bleachersDreaming about the day when you wake up and findThat what you're looking for has been here the whole time
If you could see that I'm the oneWho understands youBeen here all alongSo, why can't you see?You belong with me
Question: What is Taylor Swift saying about the nature of self awareness and the need to wake up out of our narratives?
הַכָּתוּב רֶמֶז יֵשׁ בּוֹ כְּלוֹמַר עוּרוּ יְשֵׁנִים מִשְּׁנַתְכֶם וְנִרְדָּמִים הָקִיצוּ מִתַּרְדֵּמַתְכֶם וְחַפְּשׂוּ בְּמַעֲשֵׂיכֶם וְחִזְרוּ בִּתְשׁוּבָה וְזִכְרוּ בּוֹרַאֲכֶם.
Its blast is symbolic as if saying: "You who sleep, rouse yourselves from your sleep, and you who are sleeping, wake up, examine your conduct, turn in repentance, and remember your Creator!
Question: What is the purpose of the Shofar? Who is it for?