It’s Our Story
Last week’s Torah reading was mostly the story of Noah and the Flood. One of the more curious elements of the tale is what happens when the earth dries out enough for the animals and their human tenders to exit the vessel.
Bee Juice
My recent posts...After havdala ended last week’s Galeem (“waves,” our Sunday school), the usual joyful mayhem erupted in the lobby: Kids running down halls for a water bottle, a work of art, a lollipop; parents calling after them “Remember your ________!”; brief...
Welcome to”chol”
A couple days of magnificent weather have been a welcome respite from the bounty of precipitation during Sukkot and the closing festival days. This morning, we stored away our sukkah — unscathed by the nor’easter — for next year.
Kol Nidre – All Vows
My recent posts...kol nidrei, all MY vows? Rabbi Jonathan Kremer kol nidrei, all vows. ALL vows? All my vows? How can I possibly remember them all? Those silent frustrations: I swear I could... I said what? Well, I didn't mean it that way! The thick-as-mud silent...
Sanctity of the Camp
This week’s Torah portion, Naso, includes an injunction to send those who are ritually impure “out of the contamination range” (Etz Hayim) of the mishkan, the portable sanctuary at the center of the Israelite’s encampment.
The impure are to be moved beyond the bounds of the Israelite camp, however that was determined. How far was far enough to keep impurity pollution from driving Adonai from the mishkan, Adonai’s dwelling place among the Israelites: The other side of the outermost row of tents? The back edge of the grazing area? That rock over there?
Are there limits to that which can contaminate the civic sanctuary at the center of the American camp? Contaminants such as unyielding ideologies, willful blindness, or wishful thinking, are not limited to only one political party; they are everywhere!
Better that we seek to cast light rather than sling mud; that we pursue truth rather than power; that we foster compassion within the community that America could be, should be.
For those efforts, there are no limits.
Shabbat shalom ! שבת שלום