Are you an American Jew or a Jewish American? In the 1970s I remember the Jewish community doing “values clarification” exercises in summer camp, shul learning, and adult education. The questions and discussions revolved around the concept of identity: are you a Jew who happens to live in the U.S. or are you an AmericanContinue reading “Shabbat Korakh: All the People are Holy but that’s not the point”
Tag Archives: Korakh
How not to be like Korakh: the wisdom of humility
Do not separate yourself from the community – Hillel, Pirke Avot 2.5 This week’s Parashah records a paradigmatic moment of leadership disagreement. While most Israelites are consumed with the daily challenges of life – the tent is tilting, we have to pack for the move, where is the goat? – leadership is comparably, appropriately engagedContinue reading “How not to be like Korakh: the wisdom of humility”
Parashat Korakh: Uprising Time
Five days before this Erev Shabbat, summer time began with the solstice; the perfect balance of day time and night time. Erev Shabbat Korakh is the 103rd day of Coronavirus Time. We don’t yet know what that balance will be. Thursday night Portland saw the thirtieth day of street demonstrations, among the street gatherings thatContinue reading “Parashat Korakh: Uprising Time”
Shabbat Korakh: We Need Light Now
Things are going from bad to worse, worse that we thought they could get, in our parashat hashavua, called Korakh. Hundreds of Israelites, led by Korakh, rise up against the leadership. Hundreds of people die as a result, and – most horrifying – the situation at the end of the day is not fundamentally changed. We areContinue reading “Shabbat Korakh: We Need Light Now”
parashat hashavua Korakh: Makhloket
Our concept for the week is makhloket, which means “argument” or “disagreement” but comes from a root that can also mean “slippery”. It is a Hebrew word with impressive pedigree. In the Talmud, our Sages explain that there are two kinds of makhloket, that which is “for the sake of heaven” and that which is “notContinue reading “parashat hashavua Korakh: Makhloket”
Torah for the 21st Century by Rabbi Ariel Stone 