By Joel H. Cohen
Jacob had an urgent, primal need
To disperse his patriarchal seed.
But doubted his wives’ ability
When it came to their fertility.
So Leah and Rachel deemed it fine
For him to engage a concubine.
If one is good, two are surely great,
Jacob thought, to help him procreate.
So effective were the young maids’ vibes,
They gave birth to four of the 12 Tribes.
Bilhah and Zilpah deserved wide acclaim
But few even remember their name.
These cookies should have been famous
As those baked and sold by Amos.
Yet even lists of Amidah maids
Leave the concubines’ names un-displayed.
Every fair-minded Jew will agree
We should upgrade Biblical history.
So let us re-light our righteous spark
And change concubine to matriarch.