WELCOME TO TORAH AT THE INTERSECTION
Each week I explore the weekly reading, or parasha, of the Torah, the Hebrew Bible, connecting its wisdom to Nonviolent Communication, Buddhism, and other major streams of learning that deeply inform my life.
May our journey into the intersections of Torah, Nonviolent Communication and Buddhism be of benefit to all beings everywhere.
Blessings, Roberta
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UPCOMING EVENTS
The seventh day of Passover, called Shvii Shel Pesach in Hebrew, takes us on a mystical journey toward freedom, through the splitting sea. Through ritual, teachings, discussion, music, movement and song we will explore letting go of the constrictions we wish to leave behind and embrace the openings and insights we want to take with us.
READ MOREWeekly Posts from 2021-2023
View newer posts at https://robertawall.substack.com/
When we break the word Pesach into two root words, pei (mouth) and sach (conversing), this first Jewish festival becomes the Festival of Conversing Mouth, a dynamic exchange between generations, with words, food, song and ritual. And this is how it is in fact celebrated. At the Passover table we retell the story of an escape to freedom as if it happened to us. We step into the shoes of everyone who has ever strode forth to freedom.
READ MOREA few years ago I watched the Disney version of Pocahontas with my then 3 1/2 year old grandson. In this Disney version, the white man came from Britain to ruthlessly claim the land of the native peoples for the purpose of mining gold. The natives were called “savages” and any one of them who got in the way of this enterprise would be freely slaughtered.
READ MOREThis week’s Torah portion envisions a society and world that gives space for integrating strong experiences and transitions. Sadly, historical conditions have led to the original Hebrew words often being translated into dualistic misogynist interpretations. We can reclaim that and imagine a world that provides space to process anger and vulnerable states. A world where shocking and disturbing events are attended to so they don’t become trauma and violence. So they actually become doors to understanding and communicating our inner experiences and how external circumstances affect us.
READ MORESilence is like fire. It can burn or comfort. It can be the mark of empowerment or enslavement.
In a week of witnessing much pain and suffering in the world, the Torah portion suggests that silence can be the foundation of empowered action. The traditions show us ways to be present with unspeakable suffering and infuriating actions so we can open doors to new solutions.
READ MOREThis week’s Torah portion takes place on “the eighth day.” What is an eighth day in Torah, where there are six days of creation and then the seventh day, Shabbat?
READ MOREThe gap between how we imagine the beauty of the world before humans took dominion and how it is looms large today. … In this week’s Torah portion, Eternally Present is in the midst of the Israelite’s camp, offering centering and elevation practices for a shared human destiny. The first is a collective ritual to get the people fired up, to keep alive the flames that inspire earthlings to make of our lives offerings that elevate human hearts.
READ MOREThe Jewish festival of Purim and the Hindu festival of Holi are always on the same full moon. It’s especially remarkable because sometimes it’s the third full moon in the solar calendar and sometimes its the fourth. Holi and Purim always travel together.
READ MOREThis week we enter the third book of Torah, Vayikra, the book of Leviticus. Vayikra, the first word in the book, is usually translated as “now he called.”
The final letter of the word, aleph, is written smaller than the others. Aleph is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It is always silent and signifies Oneness. Here, opening Vayikra, it is small and contracted. Perhaps intimate. Perhaps adjusted to fit our ear, so we hear our call. It is a still small voice calling just to us. It is an exhale from formless Presence that brings us to life. Something is letting us in.
Viktor Frankl wrote that hearing the life sustaining call means asking the question “what does life want from me?” Frankl’s insight calls us to meditate and listen deeply to hear how we are called to show up, to be engaged in the world, in the way we are needed, how we can bring our particular gifts.
May this week’s Torah provide comfort and inspiration to you.
READ MOREA video talk offered as part of the “A Shtickele Toyrah” (a “small piece” of Torah) with the Woodstock Jewish Congregation.
READ MOREOnce again we are bearing witness to the horrors of war, this time in Europe. This week’s Torah at the Intersection takes inspiration from the Bearing Witness Retreats of the Zen Peacemaker Order. At these retreats people from dozens of countries throughout the world come together to witness human suffering wrought by war and violence, to deeply examine the causes of war and violence and pledge to dedicate ourselves to live and work for a world without war, violence and hatred.
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