Resistance – Torah for the 21st Century by Rabbi Ariel Stone

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”

Upon receiving the Emily Georges Gottfried 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Human Rights Commission of the City of Portland.

A parable from Hasidic Judaism: Once upon a time, the king’s star gazer saw that the grain harvested that year was tainted. Anyone who would eat from it would go mad. “What can we do?” said the king. “It is not possible to destroy the crop, for we do not have enough grain stored toContinue reading “Upon receiving the Emily Georges Gottfried 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Human Rights Commission of the City of Portland. “

Shabbat Bo: Come to Pharaoh

So much happens so quickly in the parashat hashavua for this week: the parashah begins with the final confrontations between the ruler of Egypt and the messenger of G*d, and continues with the description of the first Pesakh Seder. Slowing ourselves down to carefully look at, and listen to, the words of the sacred textContinue reading “Shabbat Bo: Come to Pharaoh”

Asara b’Tevet: Countdown to January 20 2017

Yesterday the countdown began, although you may not have noticed. Yesterday was Asara b’Tevet, a minor fast day in Judaism which marks the day on which the Babylonian Empire laid siege to the ancient walls of Jerusalem. It was created as a fast day because that day was the beginning of the end for the ancientContinue reading “Asara b’Tevet: Countdown to January 20 2017”