I’m thrilled that you got in touch to ask me about your discomfort with the prayer for Israel we did in the shul during High Holy Days. I’m also very happy to hear that you are finding ways to express your sense of Jewish identity in resistance to the evils of our day. Jews, withContinue reading “Letter to a Young Jew”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Shabbat VaYeshev: Justice by the Light of the Hanukkah Menorah
You may very well be wrong in your first impression – Love, Tamar In the second year of the Triennial Cycle of Torah reading, we find that the focus of the parashat hashavua (“Torah reading of the week”) is the story of Tamar in Bereshit, also called Genesis, in chapter 38. After the strange silence imposed upon Dinah inContinue reading “Shabbat VaYeshev: Justice by the Light of the Hanukkah Menorah”
Shabbat VaYishlakh: Becoming Whole By Becoming Oneself
There’s a crack in everything – that’s how the light gets in – Leonard Cohen ז״ל In this week’s parashah, the eponymous ancestor of the People of Israel is given the name Israel. The deceiving, conniving, too smart by half Jacob has apparently achieved some kind of transition. The people Israel has for two thousandContinue reading “Shabbat VaYishlakh: Becoming Whole By Becoming Oneself”
Shabbat Toldot: Naming our Transgender Children
Today, Friday November 20, is Transgender Day of Remembrance. During Portland’s observance (last night on the eve of the day) we called the names of those who were murdered in the U.S. during this past year for no reason other than their transgender identity. We remember them, and mourn the loss of these irreplaceable ImagesContinue reading “Shabbat Toldot: Naming our Transgender Children”
A Prayer for Healing in the Time of COVID-19
Source of Healing, help us find healing. We seek strength for our spirit, resilience that will carry us through this plague in peace. Compassion that saves us, Heal the body of everyone struckwith the threatening virus, and heal the souls of all who suffer. Remember those who have died. Heal us and we shall beContinue reading “A Prayer for Healing in the Time of COVID-19”
For Those Who Resist
dedicated to my comrades in our streets and those in our hearts For those who resist For those who plan and strategize For those who gather at a moment’s notice We give thanks For those who serve as witnesses For those who are civil and disobedient We give thanks For those who speak up atContinue reading “For Those Who Resist”
Shabbat Lekh-L’kha: Making Light in Darkness
(image: close up in Torah scroll of Genesis 1.4 ויבדל אלהים בין האור ובין החשך G*d divided between the light and the darkness.) Shalom Shir Tikvah learning community, It’s getting darker every day now. How shall we trust our footsteps when we can’t see them? Where is the light that will dispel this hoshekh, thisContinue reading “Shabbat Lekh-L’kha: Making Light in Darkness”
Shabbat Noakh: Time to be stiff-necked
Once upon a time I was asked, “Rabbi, who was it who first called the Jews ‘stiff-necked’? It seems anti-Semitic.” I had to laugh. “Well, actually, it was G*d, in Exodus 32.9.” It seems to be the one thing that friends, enemies, and HaShem all agree upon, from Biblical to Talmudic to much later daysContinue reading “Shabbat Noakh: Time to be stiff-necked”
Rosh HaShanah 5781
Shabbat Nitzavim/VaYelekh: Finding Firm Ground in all this Chaos
In all these years of finding good lessons and food for thought in our shared Torah study, we have faced many challenges together and sought their meaning for our lives as Jews. This Shabbat is no different. The chaos intensifies around us until we want to scream Dayenu! “It’s enough!” The plagues increase in number and inContinue reading “Shabbat Nitzavim/VaYelekh: Finding Firm Ground in all this Chaos”
Torah for the 21st Century by Rabbi Ariel Stone 