The Still, Small Voice This week our parashat hashavua narrates a – literally – peak moment in the Israelite story: the revelation at Mt Sinai. It’s a moment that our ancestors assumed was full of intensity and the resultant stress. One midrash goes so far as to aver that our ancestors died when they heardContinue reading “Shabbat Yitro: Silence”
Tag Archives: mysticism
Shabbat VaYishlakh: Waiting To See
Looking to the future is normal. Even though it is true that we only have the moment in which we live, we spend most of our moments either looking back and remembering, or looking forward and wondering. When we are hoping and expecting good times to come, it’s diverting and pleasant to plan for them:Continue reading “Shabbat VaYishlakh: Waiting To See”
Shabbat BeHar: Everything is Connected
מָה עִנְיַן שְׁמִטָּה אֵצֶל הַר סִינַי? – What does shemitta have to do with Mount Sinai? (Rashi ז“ל) Suppose there is something going on in the universe which is to ordinary, everyday reality as our unconscious is to our daily lives? Softly, but unmistakably guiding it. Most of the time, we are unaware of it.Continue reading “Shabbat BeHar: Everything is Connected”
Shabbat Bereshit: the power of naming
This week marks the beginning, again; once again we turn to the opening pages of our Torah and read of the beginning. Except that we do not. The first words of our Torah are בראשית ברא אלהים Bereshit bara Elohim Which literally means “during the beginning, G*d created…” And what does that mean? Well, we alreadyContinue reading “Shabbat Bereshit: the power of naming”
parashat Shemini: Tragedy
In parashat Shemini, the Jewish world’s Torah reading for this week, the long process of building the first Jewish sanctuary – the mishkan – is completed, the priests – Aaron and his four sons – are ordained, the mishkan is dedicated, and the first sacrifices are finally being brought. The Israelites are thrilled to see the work of the entire community brought toContinue reading “parashat Shemini: Tragedy”
Torah for the 21st Century by Rabbi Ariel Stone 