Mindful Torah...and more

The name of this past week's parashah /portion, as well as the fourth book of the Torah, which began with this reading, is Be'midbar ( Be’midbar /Numbers 1:1 - 4:20) .  The name means "in the wilderness" and it can be found in the book of . One ancient rabbinic commentary points out that if we change one vowel in the name of the parasha , the word במדבר be’midbar , in the wilderness, it then becomes be'midabe י r , with one who is speaking. This is somewhat ironic, as the wilderness is usually associated with silence and solitude. However, we can imagine that the wilderness of Sinai and its surroundings must have been anything but silent, with the multitude of Israelites and others wandering through it for 40 years. Yet, we all know that even in the midst of a chaos and cacophony one can experience silence.  It is just as true that one can experience unceasing noise in one's mind and soul while walking seemingly in solitude and silence. What determi...

Today Pennsylvania, the state in which I now live and in which I was born and raised, made same-sex marriage legal.   I am thrilled beyond words about this, even though I realize it is only one important issue facing the LGBT community (bullying and teen homelessness is at the top of the list, in my opinion) it is still an important victory.   I am not thrilled because same sex relationships need to be recognized or validated by the straight community or the state.   We already know that these relationships are real and valid.  However, having state recognition allows same-sex couples to become legally married and receive the numerous benefits afforded straight married couples by the state. The most important one is probably spousal rights in the hospital, etc. Though marriage is only one model of relationship, it is the only one that needs state recognition (even though I think it should be a spiritual/religious ritual and not a state one.  B...

Dear Hevre /community, I know I have been absent since Rosh Hashanah, but now I hope to get back to writing commentaries and other musings on a more frequent (hopefully weekly) basis. I am starting with an edited/slightly rewritten version of a d'var torah /commentary which I wrote a few years back. I hope you find it meaningful. Shabbat Shalom, Steven -------------------------------- This week's parashah /portion is Behukotai ( Vayikra /  Leviticus 26:3-27:34). This is the final parashah in the book of Vayikra, and in it God tells Moses to say to the people that if they "walk with my statutes and observe my mitzvot /commandments," all will go well for them. However, if they do not, the heavens and earth will dry up and tragedy will befall them. The parashah then describes exactly what this punishment will entail. Personally, I have never liked "reward and punishment theology," nor do I take it literally. But taken as a metaphor the...