Psychological individuation. What is it? Why might it be a main theme of the Book of Genesis? How do key characters…
Year: 2017
Hanukkiah: "I'm Here To Tell You Resistance Never Ends"
Hanukkiah. The eight-branched menorah we light at Hanukkah. What Does the Hanukkiah Mean? The prophet Zechariah never heard of a…
From Eve to Tamar: Does Torah Say Mothering is Easy?
Tamar, daughter-in-law of Judah. Tamar stars in a short, woman-centred story (Gen. 38:1-30). This story — says Biblical scholar Robert Alter —…
Assault on Dina: A Frighteningly Modern Biblical Fable
Dina, quiet star of a disturbing Biblical story. A teaching story, with lessons for our time, too. Dina: An Ancient…
Yah Ribon: The Mystical Prayer that Isn't
Yah Ribon Alam: Ineffable Breath of Life, Master of Time and Space. So begins a most famous Aramaic piyyut (liturgical poem).…
Symbol of God or ordinary kitten? On spiritual dreams
Symbols symbolize — says Rabbi Lawrence Hoffman. Objects, ideas, and rituals are meaningful. No one can say exactly what they…
Psalm 16: When existential questions disturb your sleep
Psalm 16. A psalm about questions and answers. Nightmares disturbed my sleep yesterday. I peeked into a closet and said: I want to…
Lot of Sodom: Do you feel sorry for Abraham's nephew?
Does Torah’s narrator dislike Lot of Sodom, nephew of Abraham? Or does she feel sorry for him? Does she think…
Spiritual Practice for the Spiritual-But-Not-Religious Seeker
Spiritual practice is the art of getting to know your spirit. Spirit can include your emotions, character, moods and attitudes. Your…