Loving the book of Devarim (Deuteronomy) has been a struggle for me. The grammar is weird. Some verbs have unwieldy…
Year: 2017
Does the Ana Bekoach prayer reveal the secret 42-letter name of God?
The secret 42-letter name of God is hidden in plain sight. Clues are everywhere. Pay attention. Even to Google ads.…
Eicha? How do you approach the Book of Lamentations?
Each year on Tisha B’Av, practicing Jews reflect on Eicha, the book of Lamentations. What is the book of Lamentations? Lamentations is a…
Kabbalah: Hidden in plain sight behind prison walls
I’m so tired of being a teacher. Of philosophy, bible, kabbalah. I’m too intellectual, impractical, elitist. A weak vessel for activism. So,…
The Entire Torah is Just a Manifesto for Women's Rights. Torah Portion Mattot-Masei tells us so!
Oh boy! Oh girl! Look at the opening sentences of Parshat Mattot-Masei (Numbers 30:2-36:13). Women can vow to work at…
Praise to the Living God! What kind of Jewish prayer is Yigdal Elohim Chai?
Yigdal Elohim Chai (Praise to the Living God) has a special role in Jewish prayer. It’s one of a very few…
Patriarchy in the Torah? It's Complicated! Just look at Torah portion Pinchas!
Torah showcases the patriarchy. Of course! It reflects the patriarchal society in which it was written. Reflects. You gotta love that mirror…
Magical Realism in the Bible: How can you take it literally?
The biblical book of Numbers is filled with magical realism. Quail appear when the people want meat. Snakes slither into…
A spiritual not religious experience deepened my religious faith
Spiritual not religious. Did I briefly flirt with it on Mount Seymour? That’s where Charles and I forgot about God.…