This semester, I am teaching a course called “Midrash and the Rabbinic Imagination” at the University of British Columbia. Yesterday, students turned in the first formal paper, during a very busy midterm week. So, we relaxed with a little Bibliodrama: improvisational theatre exploring what takes place “between the lines” of the Hebrew Bible. We explored…
Philos-Sophia
Why worry about consciousness when the political world is falling apart around us? Isn’t it like “fiddling while Rome burns”? On the contrary – says Plato – it’s the only practice that will make “Rome” endure. In the Republic, Plato asks, “Who should rule?” He answers, “One who has looked at the components of her…
Praying for Presence
One day in the course of my recent work, I sat with four different people: one trying to rescue a relative lost in a foreign country, one who narrowly escaped danger alive, one making an uncertain career transition, and one hospitalized after a suicide attempt. Each one hoped for clarity, affirmation, and connection. Each one…
Gateway to Kabbalah
The Hebrew word for Sophia is chochma. In the tradition of Kabbalah, the word chochma describes the very first glimmer of insight. In the erotic imagery popular among classical Kabbalistic writers, chochma is the sperm that gets enfolded in the womb of consciousness, and nourished into a fuller understanding. Teens from Sophia Street, Vancouver, study…
Layers of Consciousness
My husband Charles is studying the history of Sophia Street. He has read books, viewed maps, scanned photographic archives, and visited the library’s Special Collections room. One of his favorite resources is a book of maps of Vancouver across the decades. He developed a special tool for reading the maps. On a blank transparency, he…
Spirit of the Bear
As late as 1910, Sophia Street was home to black bears. Today, we share the street with fellow mammals coyote, raccoon, and skunk. Last night, as we continued to learn about our street’s history, a spirit of her past joined me in my dreams: It’s my first day on the job as a new professor…
Welcome to Sophia Street
Sophia means “Wisdom.” And I live on Sophia Street. Sophia Street in Vancouver, Canada, was built in 1885 by developer Henry Valentine Edmonds. He named the thoroughfare “Sophy Street,” in honor of his sister. Edmonds’ business ventures flourished and so did his new neighborhood. Today, Sophia Street is an urban residential street lined with cherry…
A Shepherd's Care
In Parshat Vayetze, we learn about the young adult lives of our ancestors Jacob, Rachel, and Leah. They are immersed in a shepherding culture. Their parents are shepherds, and they are named after sheep. Jacob means “Follower,” Rachel means “Ewe,” and Leah means “Wild Mother.” As they mature, they all work in the family business. When Jacob first becomes aware of his…
Birthright Soup (Recipe)
Why did Esau sell his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of red lentils? Prepare this recipe for “Birthright Soup” and then you’ll know. Soup ingredients 1 large onion, chopped; 3 tablespoons olive oil; 3 cloves garlic, crushed; 1-1.5 teaspoons ground cumin; 1-1.5 teaspoons ground coriander; pinch of ground chili pepper; 1 cup split red…
Self-Correcting Cities
What makes Sodom such a sinful city? Torah tells us that the people would gather into a mob to abuse visiting strangers. Our Sages add that only the wealthy were welcome as guests in Sodom. The poor were abused, humiliated, expelled or killed. Midrash Pirkei d’ Rabbi Eliezer (3rd century) teaches that under the laws of Sodom, sharing wealth…