Vayikra | Answering the Call
A video talk offered as part of the “A Shtickele Toyrah” (a “small piece” of Torah) with the Woodstock Jewish Congregation.
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Leviticus | Vayikra
Vayikra | Approaching Presence
This 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.”
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TZAV | Coming Together
The 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.
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Shemini | Coming Close
This 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?
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Shemini | Silence and Connection Before Correction
Silence 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.
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Tazria | Threshold Experiences
This 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.
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M’tzorah | The Affliction of Possession
A 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.
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Acharei Mot | Who Dies?
This week’s Torah portion, Acharei Mot, After Death, is dedicated to the full and speedy healing of my friend Robert Mich’ael Esformes, who taught me what Yom Kippur is about.
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Kedoshim | Holiness Toward Each Other
This Torah portion expands upon the Ten Vibrations Moses brought down from the mountain to guide us in bringing holiness into our world. Kedoshim means holiness. Holiness in our day-to-day lives is all about how we care for others, honoring our parents, teaching our children, helping the poor, living lives of honesty and generosity. And, perhaps the Torah’s most important of commandments: love the stranger as yourself.
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Emor | Caste
Tamei, often translated as “impure,” or “unclean,” is mentioned throughout the book of Leviticus. It comes about in reaction to strong physical-spiritual experiences such as contact with death, menstruation, childbirth, and male ejaculations. The priest is vulnerable to additional categories of tamei, related to the duties of the priestly caste. Tamei separates us from kedoshim, holiness, the connection for which Eternal Presence brought us out of slavery.