As somewhat of a tangential thinker, I can totally relate to this week's Torah portion, in which a seemingly random verse pops up in the middle of the text. But as we learn week after week, the Torah typically draws purposeful connections, even if they aren't always clear right away.
JoAnn Bezodis is a long-time member of our community and a member of our staff; she also has a granddaughter who needs our help. One of twin girls, Jojo was born prematurely with “multiple serious genetic anomalies.” Her diagnosis and prognosis are presented below.
While Hanukkah is a long way off, a Mishnah that I love to teach about Hanukkah comes to mind as I read this week’s Torah portions. Hillel and Shammai, the great rabbinic sparring partners, have a debate about how to light the candles. This debate is about more than a ritual because the candles represent something bigger than just glowing light.
At the end of January, I had knee surgery. It was my fifth surgery. Five surgeries? Yes. My first surgery occurred when I was 19. Since then, my knees have failed me at regular intervals.
I’m sure you’ve heard the message in one form or another: just because you’re vaccinated does not necessarily make it safe to return to life as we knew it in 2019. As Jews, this is familiar territory. From laws of kashrut to ritual hand washing to visits to the mikveh, Jewish ritual practice brings an awareness of our physical selves, the world that surrounds us, and the connection between the two.
I have been reflecting on different aspects of hope. Last week, I shared with you the connection between unprocessed trauma, and how it can make us feel unready to hope. Students of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict see that play out.
On a family trip a few years ago, things were not going as planned, and I let emotions get the best of me. Parshat Shemini offers the reminder that the best way to manage stressful situations is to know ourselves, check in with our own emotions, and if possible, find a way to channel those emotions in more productive and less destructive ways.
