Judaism places a huge value on the creative power of speech. In the very beginning of our Torah, God literally speaks the world into being. Our liturgy reminds us of this divine creation, and describes God as “the One who spoke and the world came to be.” A hugely
B'haalot'cha: What Do We Weave and What Do We Carry? When I moved to Santa Fe in 2021, the Museum of International Folk Art was hosting an exhibit called From Combat to Carpet: The Art of Afghan War Rugs. Starting in the late 1970s, following the Soviet invasion of
It has been an intellectually challenging couple of weeks in the Temple Jeremiah Torah study group. We are deep in the weeds of the parts of Leviticus that list rule after rule, interspersed with stories of divine punishment and retribution. Last week, with Tazria-Metzora, we talked about the rules
The Way Meat Loves Salt A father once asked his three daughters how much they loved him. The eldest said, "With all the warmth of the sun." The second, "With the power of an ocean's waves." The youngest, after a moment's thought, replied, "I love you the way meat
In this week’s Torah portion, T'rumah, the Israelites start building the Tabernacle, using the gifts that are brought by all whose hearts so move them. Together, they build a sanctuary so that God can dwell among them. They invite the presence of God into their midst through their generosity
We are finally bringing in the light! We’re on the other side of the winter solstice. The daylight will slowly get longer, but in the meantime, we’re lighting the Chanukah candles and filling our homes with light and warmth. Looking out the window to see a dusting of snow
Prayer is one of the most personal and profound ways that people connect with the Divine, themselves, and the world around them. It's an expression of faith, a moment of reflection, or a way to seek guidance and comfort. But what’s so beautiful about prayer is that there’s no
At the very end of Yom Kippur, as the gates began to close and the sun set, we read together, “Our sages teach: As soon as the fast of Yom Kippur concludes, pound the first nail into the sukkah! To everything there is a season - a time for
