This struggle is harder, and taking longer, than we thought This week’s parashah tells the story of how, in the old Yiddish expression, mahn trakht und Gott lakht, “people plan and G*d laughs.” Our ancestors, the ancient Israelites, expected that the journey to the Land they were promised would be their new home would beContinue reading “Parashat Shelakh L’kha: Not So Close”
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Shabbat BeHa’alot’kha: We Need More Light
The days are as long as they get right now, yet we need light desperately: the light of hope, the light of healing, the light of happiness, all obscured in the horror of realizing that our own Federal government is operating concentration camps full of children and adults who are innocent of any crime. Continue reading “Shabbat BeHa’alot’kha: We Need More Light”
Shabbat Naso: Queering Your Torah Study
Shir Tikvah’s greatest contribution to the Portland Jewish community is our vibrant, provocative weekly Torah study. As scholar Judith Plaskow put it: Given the centrality of Torah study and interpretation to Jewish self-understanding, it is not surprising that many contemporary Jews continue to grapple with Torah as a way of defining their Jewish identities.Continue reading “Shabbat Naso: Queering Your Torah Study”
Shabbat Naso: In Honor of Pride, Queer Morning Blessings
begin with this blessing for all ברוך אתה יי אלהינו מלך העולם שאשני בצלמו barukh atah Ad-nai Eloheynu melekh ha’olam sheh’asani b’tzalmo I give thanks that I am created in in Image of G*d choose the appropriate continuation/s for a non-binary person ברוך אתה יי אלהינו מלך העולם שעשני כרצונו barukh atah Ad-nai EloheynuContinue reading “Shabbat Naso: In Honor of Pride, Queer Morning Blessings”
Shabbat BeHukotai: How to Choose Blessing Over Curse
Our parashat hashavua, our Torah reading for the week, is BeHukotai, which can be translated as “in all these laws.” The parashah itself is famous for a horrifying list of curses that we are told will befall us if we turn away from the good path of life. Longstanding Jewish tradition bids us chant thisContinue reading “Shabbat BeHukotai: How to Choose Blessing Over Curse”
Shabbat HaGadol: It Matters Now, Too
This Shabbat is called Shabbat HaGadol, the “great Shabbat,” possibly echoing the content of the special Haftarah chanted on this day, which speaks of a “great and terrible day” which is coming. הִנֵּ֤ה אָֽנֹכִי֙ שֹׁלֵ֣חַ לָכֶ֔ם אֵ֖ת אֵלִיָּ֣ה הַנָּבִ֑יא לִפְנֵ֗י בּ֚וֹא י֣וֹם ה’ הַגָּד֖וֹל וְהַנּוֹרָֽא׃ Here, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before theContinue reading “Shabbat HaGadol: It Matters Now, Too”
Shabbat HaHodesh: Homelessness and Hope
On this Shabbat HaHodesh (The Month) we mark the first day of the month of Nisan, which, since it is the first of months in our calendar, is also the first day of the Jewish year. Happy New Year! Our people took their timing from the world around them, which renewed itself in buds ofContinue reading “Shabbat HaHodesh: Homelessness and Hope”
Shabbat Parah: Being Seen (Trans Visibility Shabbat)
This Shabbat we mark another of the special Shabbatot that count down (up, rather) to Pesakh: this Shabbat which is Shemini in our regular cycle of readings is also Shabbat Parah, named for a red heifer. Each of the special readings added during this time brings our attention to an important aspect of the Festival ofContinue reading “Shabbat Parah: Being Seen (Trans Visibility Shabbat)”
Shabbat Tzav: how to Keep that Fire Burning
This evening as Shabbat begins, the holiday of Purim finally ends, with the extra day called Shushan Purim, the Purim celebrated one day later by those who live in cities that were walled at the time of the Purim story, which takes place in ancient Persia (during the First Exile, 586-520 BCE, when the Jewish refugeesContinue reading “Shabbat Tzav: how to Keep that Fire Burning”
Shabbat VaYikra: Salaam, Shalom, Peace
This week our parashat hashavua is VaYikra, which translates as a calling upon, or calling out – out loud. G*d calls upon Moshe to act to evoke holiness in the world, and G*d similarly calls upon us. Though we do not hear a voice, we can sometimes feel that there is something that we areContinue reading “Shabbat VaYikra: Salaam, Shalom, Peace”
Torah for the 21st Century by Rabbi Ariel Stone 