Mindful Torah...and more

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...

Dear online community, Once again I must apologize for missing a week. For various personal reasons, these last few weeks have been quite hectic and my blog has suffered for it. Hopefully things are now back on track and you will seeing my commentaries every week once again. But before I continue with my commentary, I must do a bit of shameless self promotion ;-)  I am currently beginning to schedule visits to teach and learn together with communities across the country in the upcoming Jewish/academic/programming year (i.e., Sept-June, and even summer if you'd like).  If you would like to bring me to your community, please either contact me at mindfultorah@gmail.com or pass my information along to those who are doing the planning for your community for next year.  I would love to work something out so I can pay you a visit! This is true for synagogues, schools, JCCs Hillels and other campus venues, as well as non-Jewish or interfaith venues.  So please keep me in mi...