Proudly Jewish - Proudly Progressive
Proudly Jewish - Proudly Progressive
Have you noticed how “matriarchal” Genesis is? It is true that the “founders” of Judaism are the three patriarchs – three men – but it was their mothers and not their fathers who determined who carried the mantle. Abraham had…
Our parashah for this Shabbat continues with report of Abraham’s and Sarah’s journey. Both welcome the three unknown visitors and learn from them that Sarah will soon bear a son, despite of her old age. As the visitors had predicted,…
Have you asked yourself how life would be for you if you were born into a different time? Somewhere in the past or in the future? Would you be a different person? In this week’s Torah portion, as we read…
“You shall live in Sukkot seven days; all citizens of Israel shall live in Sukkot, in order that future generations may know that I made the Israelite people live in Sukkot when I brought them out of the land of…
Our Jewish tradition says that immediately at the conclusion of Yom Kippur, one should occupy oneself with the mitzvah of building the sukkah. Typically, one engages in a symbolic act of sukkah building as a way of showing one’s enthusiasm…
„I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse; therefore choose life, so that you may live, you and your children.” – Deuteronomy 30:19…
In Ki Tavo the Israelites are commanded to bring their first fruits as an offering: “When you come into the land that the Eternal your God is giving you for an inheritance and have taken possession of it and live…
Our parashah this week, “Ki Teitzei”, offers us yet another opportunity to be inspired by Moses’ review of what God demands of our ancestors in order that they fulfil their national destiny to become a holy people, a Godly people.…
The pursuit of justice is one of the most frequently repeated concerns, and not only of the Torah, but of Jewish tradition. Any society, so the teaching, is to pursue justice in dealing with social, political, and international matters. In…
Our Torah reading for this week is found in the middle section of Moses’ parting sermons to the Israelites before his death and their entry into Canaan. In the opening readings of the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses has concerned himself…