“Agreeing to disagree” is a part of our vernacular, although if you spend any time on social media, this philosophical compromise has become far too rare. Parshat Balak presents the notion that as human beings, being open minded is in our own hands. Information is available to us, but it’s up to us to open our hearts to internalize and interpret it.
Laura came to me in tears. The Highland Park shooting was a bit too close to home. Her mother grew up there and she and her brother used to spend summers there with her grandparents when she was a little girl. She could picture herself there.
Since the beginning of life, we are always learning, growing, and building on the memories and lessons of those who came before us and transmitting them to the next generation as they take on the mantle of leadership. The lesson in Parshat Chukat forces the Israelites to see that no leader, no person lives forever, and that’s not a bad thing.
In the beginning of June, a story came to light about a website called the Mapping Project. It lists almost every Jewish institution in Massachusetts and effectively claims they are each responsible for the continued impasse between the Israelis and Palestinians. The creators of the website have remained anonymous, even as they have created a single address for anyone upset by conditions in the Middle East to conveniently find Jewish organizations in Massachusetts.
Why have we kept the "redemption of the firstborn," a ritual called Pidyon HaBen in Jewish tradition? Perhaps less than a financial necessity, it’s to mark the moment a parent fully recognizes the responsibility and honor of being a parent. Raising a child is certainly costly, but as parents know, being a parent is not about the expense, but the gift of love, learning, and growth of experiencing many firsts together.
Click to view the July/August 2022 issue of Neveh Shalom’s Chronicle Please note that the file is large, thank you for your patience.
Today has not been a good day. I find myself flooded with feelings of fury, sadness, despair, powerlessness, and righteous agency. I am awash with feeling.
