What Is the Body Language of Prayer?
As a teenager, I had the unique experience of participating in a joint Reform/Orthodox retreat up at OSRUI, our URJ camp in Wisconsin. I remember walking over to the Orthodox service after the Reform service had ended and seeing one of the participants standing in front of the congregation, barefoot, with a tallit over his head and his hands spread wide. I learned that I had seen a ritual sometimes called Birkat Kohanim (the Priestly Benediction or Priestly Blessing). ...The origins of this ritual come from this week's portion, Sh'mini.
It’s Important To See the Whole Person, Not Just the Illness
I’ve never had great knees, but this was a bit much. At 32 years old, I was limping around, struggling to go up and down stairs, and just feeling terrible about it. Thankfully, surgery and physical therapy helped and I have long since recovered. The most important lesson I learned from my bad knees is one that I see reflected in this week’s Torah portion. Parashat Tazria-M’tzora teaches us about our physicality; its focus is on the skin, hair, fluids, and organs that make up our bodies. We learn how out of our control those things can be and we gain some insight into our relationships with those entrusted with our care.
Committing Ourselves to the Actions Required for Full Inclusion
At its best, the Torah can lift up humanity, reminding us of our place in the continually unfolding story of God’s Creation of the world and our role in the hopeful journey toward freedom. At its worst, it can serve as a tool for domination, oppression, hatred, and all that is base and vile within the human soul. As a gay man, I approached this week’s Torah portion, Acharei Mot-K'doshim, with a fair amount of trepidation.
How Can Social Isolation Lead to Illumination?
“Because Freedom Can’t Protect Itself”
This year marks Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's twentieth anniversary on the United States Supreme Court. Justice Ginsburg likes to tell her version of a story that has many versions: 1
Awakened as a People, Raised Up as Jews
If you swim off the beaches of Australia, you need to be on the lookout for “blue bottles,” an Aussie nickname for the Portuguese man of war. A blue bottle is not a jellyfish nor is it a single creature.
The Sotah (Suspected Adulteress), the Nazir (Nazirite) and the Kohein (Priest)-How Odd They Should Be Neighbors!
Parashat Naso receives its name from the first word of its second verse (Numbers 4:22). The Hebrew verb naso, typically means "to lift up," but the idiom "lift the heads" has the special meaning of counting heads, or taking a census.
Nahshon, Music, and Shmutz
In Parashat Naso we finally reach the completion of the Tabernacle with all of its elaborate furnishings. The chieftains of each tribe are invited to present offerings for the dedication of the altar, one chieftain per day.
The Burdens That Raise Us Up
Focal Point
But to the Kohathites he [Moses] did not give any [gifts]; since theirs was the service of the [most] sacred objects, their porterage was by shoulder. (Numbers 7:9)
D'var Torah