Tag Archives: religion

Shabbat Shemot: Standing up to Pharaoh

Renee Good: may her memory be a blessing “Tank Man” temporarily stops the advance of four Type 59 tanks on June 5, 1989, in Beijing. This photograph (one of six similar versions) was taken by Jeff Widener of the Associated Press. (Wikipedia) וַיָּ֥קׇם מֶֽלֶךְ־חָדָ֖שׁ עַל־מִצְרָ֑יִם אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־יָדַ֖ע אֶת־יוֹסֵֽף A new king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph. –Continue reading “Shabbat Shemot: Standing up to Pharaoh”

Shabbat Ekev: Down at the Heels

We must risk delight. We can do without pleasure,but not delight. Not enjoyment. We must havethe stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthlessfurnace of this world. To make injustice the onlymeasure of our attention is to praise the Devil. from Jack Gilbert, “A Brief for the Defense” This week we read parashat Ekev, inContinue reading “Shabbat Ekev: Down at the Heels”

Shabbat VaYera: Apocalypse Now

apokalysis, the Greek word for “revelation”, means not “ending” but “unveiling”…not “closure” but “disclosure” – that is, opening. A chance to open our eyes? But to what? -Ayana Mathis, “Imprinted by Belief: Apocalypse” NYTimes book review April 21 2024 Only four weeks ago we began again to immerse ourselves in the endless sea of TorahContinue reading “Shabbat VaYera: Apocalypse Now”

Shabbat Bereshit: Beginning Again, With You

The Thing Is To love life, to love it even when you have no stomach for it and everything you’ve held dear crumbles like burnt paper in your hands, your throat filled with the silt of it. When grief sits with you, its tropical heat thickening the air, heavy as water more fit for gillsContinue reading “Shabbat Bereshit: Beginning Again, With You”

Va’Era: parashat hashavua commentary

This week’s parashat hashavua, Va’Era, derives its name from a curious assertion on the part of none other than God about the names by which we know God: I am יהוה  – I appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob by the name El Shaddai, but my name יהוה they did not come to know. (Ex.6.2-3). What’s a bit strange about this is thatContinue reading “Va’Era: parashat hashavua commentary”