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.
This opening verse of Torah portion Emor leads to a multitude of awareness practices for our embodied selves. In Torah, the nefesh is the embodied self. It is the vessel for the essential universal self from which we emerge and to which we return. Tamei, over-activation of the life force, can arise when there is unbalanced contact with strong physical transitions such as death, fertility and sexual arousal.
Emor | The Surprising Purpose of Tamei Read More »
This week’ s Torah portion, Behar, begins with a beautiful vision. Earth experiences a rest when people enter her. How we long for this relationship, rather than the development and exploitation that accompanies modern human occupation of land. How we need this great turning.
Behar | Freedom: Releasing Possession of Land and Each Other Read More »
When my friend Sulieman Khatib, one of the Palestinian leaders of Combatants for Peace, came to speak at the synagogue I belong to in Asheville, he said, “When we Israelis and Palestinians look at the land we share, do we think, the land belongs to us, or do we think, we belong to the land?”
Behar | Does The Land Belong To Us, Or Do We Belong To The Land? Read More »
