The Rav in the Hat by Rabbi Seuss, aka Rabbi Amy R. Perlin D.D. (Rosh Hashanah 5778 Family Service, 09/21/17)
The sun it did shine
They were too tired to pray
But, they sat in the Temple
On that Rosh Hashanah day.
Solly sat there with Sally
They sat there those two
And Solly said, “How I wish
That this service was through?”
Not allowed to go out
Make noise or run in the hall
They just sat in the Temple
Wishing it were a mall.
‘Cause all they could do was to
Sit! Sit! Sit! Sit!
And they did not like it
Not one little bit.
And then
Something went bump
How that bump made them jump!
They looked!
Then they saw me
They said, “Who is that?”
They looked and they saw ME!
The Rav in the Hat!
And I said to them
“Why do you sit there like that?”
I know it is long
And the rabbi’s not funny
And you can’t wait to go out
To eat apples and honey!
I know some good prayers you could pray
And some great stories, too.
Lots of fun Jewish stuff
I will share it all with you
~Your parents will not mind at all if I do.
Then Sally and Solly
Did not know what to say
What else did they have to do,
On this Rosh Hashanah day?!
Now, now, my sweet dears
I’m a really smart CAT.
I’m a Rav, that’s a RABBI
Said this Rav In the Hat.
Why we can have fun
Lots of good fun, if you wish
With prayers, stories, and songs
For kids who are Jewish.
With a prayerbook in hand
I will teach you the Shema
And that is not all ~
There’s also Torah…
With a kop, that’s a brain
A kipah for a hat
You can learn Jewish history
Now, how about that?
You can learn our traditions
You can eat gefilte fish
And some Shabbat Spartan’s chickens
Or a nice potato knish.
And look! Look at him…
He can eat his own matzah ball
But that is not all!
Oh no. That is not all.
Look at her
Look at him
Look at them now
It is fun to be Jewish
But you have to know how
To the parents I say
It starts when your children are small
Talk of God and tzedakah
Winter, spring, summer and fall.
Together share holidays
Listen to the Shofar’s loud sound.
Share Jewish values
Keep Jewish objects around.
Have grape juice for Kiddush
Light candles Friday night
Bake hamantaschen
And Chanukah candles light.
You can read Jewish books
And a lulav shake.
Eat matzah at Passover
And your own challah bake.
You can come here to temple
As often as you can
Come as a family
In your SUV or sedan!
With a grogger at temple
You can boo old Haman
Have a Bar or Bat Mitzvah
AND a Confirmay-shan
But that is not all. Oh no,
That is not all…
As your child grows up
You can try more Jewish stuff,
You can bring food for the hungry
‘Cause for some life is rough.
Our tradition is old
And there’s so much to do
To make every good girl and good boy
— a good Jew
I promise you’ll like this,
Oh yes – you will, too.”
When there is a game
On a Hebrew school day
There is no other choice,
But to go to Hebrew and not play.
O yes, soccer is fun and
Baseball is grand
But we have been chosen
To give God a hand.
There will be time, to do many things
Like playing piano, and practicing strings
Time to go out – to play with your friends
To swim, dance, or bike -until the day ends.
But, Friday’s Shabbat,
That’s the number one night,
For family dinner
With candles to light.
Eat challah, be thankful,
Turn off cell phones and TV
Go to temple to pray
And to get a Frisbee!
Not just once a month
Shabbat comes every week
Bringing family love
And the peace that you seek.
I know it’s not easy
To make life feel Jewish
In your house, in your life
To feel white and bluish.
Religious school, Temple,
That is not all
Because if it were
Then the Torah would fall.
God and the mitzvot
Are there every day
With values and commandments
To do and obey.
Say the Mi Shebeirach
Be nice to kids at school
Say the Shema before bed
Doing Jewish is cool!
Make Jewish choices
Live what you pray
Be kind to others
And watch what you say.
You say that I’m crazy
Don’t mind if I am
I’d rather eat latkes
Than green eggs and ham!
Today’s Rosh Hashanah
A day to atone
To say sorry for hitting
Or that mean, nasty tone.
Today’s Rosh Hashanah
A High Holy Day
Said the short little Rav
In her firm, mommy way.
It’s a day to remember
A day to be nice
A day to say “Sorry!”
Not once, at least twice.
Talk as a family,
Put away video games
Turn off your cell phones,
Stop calling your brother names.
Until the sun sets,
Turn off tech-no-lo-gy
No fighting, no yelling,
Be as nice as you can be.
God’s got the Book open
It’s huge and its true
God’s looking at us—
Have you been a good Jew?
When the sun does not shine
Or it’s too wet to play
Do you whine, do you kvetch
Do you make your parents go gray?
When there’s no Shabbat wine
Do you run to the store
For challah and candles
Manischewitz and more?
It’s important to think
On this Rosh Hashanah day
So, Sally and Solly
They started to pray.
See Sally and Solly—
They realized today,
As they sat in their Temple
On this High Holy Day —
That the Rav in the Hat
The Rav who’s not tall
She’s not wrong at all
No. She’s not wrong at all.
Promise to be better
In the New Year
Kinder and nicer
As the shofar you hear.
Pick people up,
When you know they are down
Clean up your room
And care for your town.
Did you have any fun?
Tell me,
Did you learn anything new?
Do you promise to be a good person?
A good Jew?
And then said the Rav
As she readied to go
I will tell you another thing
That I know.
Live, love, and laugh—
May your New Year be newish
And always live lives
That are proud, kind, and Jewish!