Looking all around from my corner of the universe
For the past few years, my practice of counting the Omer has been connected to Tarot. The counting of the Omer is the biblical practice of counting each day between Passover and Shavuot, the festival of freedom and the festival of covenant. Originally an agricultural practice, the counting of the Omer links the themes of …
Judaism is pro-life: the notion of pikuach nefesh--of saving a life--is paramount, overriding other ritual obligations. For example, if you can't fast on Yom Kippur for health reasons, then not only should you not fast, but it is a "sin" to fast. And because of this commitment to life, when it comes to the abortion …
Who is your guide? Listen to the latest episode of my podcast here: 60 SECONDS TO WISDOM. Short teachings on the weekly Torah portion. Suitable for all who seek.
This week’s Torah portion is called Acharei Mot, which means “after death.” We took a break from the regular Torah reading cycle for the festival of Passover, and pick it up this week with these words which, in the text, refer to the death of the sons of Aaron, the High Priest. His two sons, …
With Passover coming to a close, the recounting of our journey from slavery to liberation is nearly complete. The 7th day of Passover is traditionally marked as the day of the crossing of the Sea of Reeds, the climactic act which sealed the freedom of the Israelites. The Torah reading that is associated with this …
Think when, not if. Listen to the latest episode of my podcast here. 60 SECONDS TO WISDOM. Short teachings on the weekly Torah portion. Suitable for all who seek.
I know I am in the minority but I love a tongue sandwich. My go-to deli order is pastrami and tongue on rye, and sometimes, hold the pastrami. When I get looks from my family, I proudly declare that “it’s the food that tastes you back.” My love for tongue came up for me this …
Earlier this week, I stood outside Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center in El Paso, TX. Painted on the exterior wall was a quote from Franklin Delano Roosevelt from 1938: “Remember, remember always, that all of us, and you and I especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionists.” A powerful and meaningful quote to read, having …
Continue reading “In Every Generation:” Notes from the Border
Oy, I realize I have gotten a bit behind in posting each episode to the blog, though you can find each one on Soundcloud, iTunes, or other podcast apps, and here on the Torah tl;dr tab. Here is the latest episode: 60 SECONDS TO WISDOM. Short teachings on the weekly Torah portion. Suitable for all …
