Hey all! This week we talk about 90′s music, a Jewish meditation CD, a cookbook, and a secret project!
PunkTorah Radio: Jewish Meditation, A Cookbook, And Kurt Cobain
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PunkTorah Radio: Jewish Meditation, A Cookbook, And Kurt Cobain
2 Adar II 5771 - March 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Parshah Pekudei
27 Adar I 5771 - March 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment
This week’s parshah, Pekudei, sees the completion of the Mishkan, the portable Tabernacle that serves as G-d’s dwelling place amongst the Israelites as they travel. Moses does a little accounting (hey, he’s the executive director of a non-profit organization, it’s in the job description!), and all of the pieces are brought together to be erected.
Here’s where we see two things that are pretty special.
First, Moses gets a special honor. Moshe hadn’t been involved with the actual construction of the Tabernacle. While he had relayed instructions to Bezalel, the “General Contractor” appointed by G-d, Moses didn’t actually get a chance to physically get in there and get his hands dirty like all of the other Israelites. Knowing this, Hashem gives Moses a special opportunity. According to Rashi, the workmen brought the pieces to Moses.
When Moses saw how heavy all the pieces were, he exclaimed, “How am I going to lift his whole thing up?”
G-d told him, “Don’t worry! You just do your best, I will do the rest.”
So Moses moved to lift the Tabernacle, and the it raised up by itself!
What does this mean? Hashem is telling us that when there is work to be done in G-d’s honor, what really matters is that we try. As long as we make an attempt, we win. Especially when it comes to creating a holy space for G-d to dwell, there is no failing in the service of Hashem.
Secondly, Pekudei speaks about the anointing and blessing of Aaron and his sons as priests. The Torah says, “and so shall it be that their anointment shall be for them for eternal priesthood for their generations” (Shemos/Exodus 40:15). Haamek Dvar (a commentary on the Torah by Rabbi Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin of Voloshin), tells us that before this time the blessing given to the priests had only been for them, and was not passed on to their children, but now the blessings extends to them and the generations that follow.
Inherited holiness? What does that even mean?
I understand this to mean that the capacity for holiness is inherent in all creation. We all have the potential to be holy and create holiness in others. What gets passed on is the key to unlock this potential. Jewish tradition is one that passes on the secrets of unlocking this holiness, so we have an obligation to those around us and the generations that follow to be an example of that holiness, and show the world that we all have the capacity to be holy, and we all hold the key. The real secret is that we don’t have the key for our own potential! Our key can only unlock the heart of another! Just as the Israelites couldn’t build the Tabernacle one by one, they had to help each other, so do we have to help each other realize their potential for holiness. It is only in helping others that we can truly help ourselves.
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Vayakhel and the Tabernacle of the Heart
20 Adar I 5771 - February 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment
At the beginning of this portion this week, Vayakhel, Moses reiterates the commandment to observe Shabbat, and then goes on to explain, in more excruciating detail, the construction of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle, that is to be Hashem’s dwelling place with the Israelites as they travel. The question in this portion is what, in all of these details regarding the kind of blue, purple and red dyed wool, goat hair, animal skins, gold, silver, and copper, what can we learn from this, this craziness?
This is the questions I asked myself:
What does this have to do with me?
At the beginning of the portion, Moses asks the Israelites to donate these rich and precious materials to build G_d’s house, His Tabernacle, and to work to build the Sanctuary.
And what do the Jews do?
They give.
And give.
And give some more.
The Torah says:
“Every man and woman whose heart motivated them to bring for any of the work that Hashem had commanded to make, through Moses – the Children of Israel brought a free-willed offering to Hashem.”
They came and gave freely. Not only did they give, they worked, they sewed and built and labored.
In fact, they gave so much of their possessions and of themselves that Moses had to say, “Man and woman shall not do more work toward the gift for the Sanctuary”!
Moses told them to stop!
The building of the tabernacle raised another question in studying this portion: what is the Mishkan that we should be building today? One answer is the tabernacle of our hearts. And more than this, we are told that all who desired came to build, together, to build the Mishkan. Can you imagine that? This saying that not only are we to build the sanctuaries of our own hearts, our own spaces for Hashem to dwell within us, more importantly we are called to help build up the sanctuaries of others, to empower them to a higher connection with G-d.
What can we take away from this?
We are called to give, not as charity and not just money. Jews are called to give tzedakah, which means “righteousness” or “justice”. We are called to do right with ourselves and our resources. We are called to work not only for our own personal spiritual benefit, but for those in the world with us as well.
So give. Give of your time, your money, your selves. Give until Moses himself says “No more!”.
But more than that, give of your skills, your love, your soul, and help your fellow human beings dedicate the tabernacle of their hearts to the unity and Oneness that is the reality of G-d.
(Thanks to everyone at Torah Together on Monday nights at OneShul.org for the help!)
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OneShul and JOU PRESENT Positive Psychology & Judaism
10 Adar I 5771 - February 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Join us for an amazing online class on Positive Psychology & Judaism on Wednesday, February 16th at 7:00PM EST. We’ll be streaming a class on the fundamentals of making life more fulfilling through Positive Psychology and its connection to the ancient wisdom of the Torah and the Jewish people. Afterwards, Patrick and Michael will be hosting a live discussion.
Join us in our virtual classroom: http://oneshul.org/taste-of-jou/
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Donating Restored Tefillin and Used Tallitot for the Abayudaya Jewish Community of Uganda
5 Adar I 5771 - February 9, 2011 By 1 Comment
The Jews of Uganda (Abayudaya) are an authentic Jewish community. The community was formed by the founder of modern Uganda, Semei Kakungulu (1869-1928). Kakungulu considered many religious communities, before deciding from his own research, to embrace Judaism and the mitzvot of the Torah. He was circumcised, as were his children and those who followed him; a fact which caused them to be greatly harassed by some of their neighbors.
Kakungulu did not have the option of going to his local shul and taking a course to make gerut, nor to petition an Orthodox rabbi three times to prove his sincerity. He found Judaism in the Torah itself, and he followed the Torah to walk the path of Judaism immediately, once convinced of its truth. While this is not the normal route into Yahadut, this is a Talmudically recognized method, which was well-known and accepted by both the Rambam and Rabbi Yosef Karo.
The Talmud refers to gerim g’rurim (גרים גרורים) as effectively “self-made proselytes.” (`Avodah Zarah 23a-24b). One type of gerut is undertaken before a Beyt Din, composed of three Dayanim of any Jews knowledgeable in matters of gerut. According to the Talmud, the onlytime that gerim g’rurim will not be accepted is when Mashiach comes and the battles against Gog and Magog are underway. In that future scenario, Ha’Shem will “have the last laugh” as those who seek to self-convert then will walk away from Judaism on their own, once faced with persecution.
The Abayudaya, however, have been subjected to some of the most horrendous persecutions for their Jewishness; attempts at forced conversion and extermination by Idi Amin. There is no question as to this community’s sincerity. According to the Rambam, the Jewishness ofgerim g’rurim, and those who had no option but to convert themselves, cannot be denied once their qabalat ha’mitzvot has been established, as is the case with the Jewish community of Uganda.
[The following laws apply with regard to] a female convert who we see conduct herself according to the ways of Israel at all times, for example, she immerses herself after niddah, she separatesterūmah from dough, or the like, and to a male ger who follows the paths of Israel, for example, he immerses himself after seminal emission, and performs all the mitzvōt: These are considered as righteous converts (gereī tzadīq/gerīm tzaddīqīm), even though there are no witnesses to testify before whom they converted. Nevertheless, if they come to marry among the Jewish people, we do not allow them unless they bring witnesses or they immerse themselves in our presence [so that we can make sure they are circumcised]. The rationale is that their identity was originally established as gentiles [so there is reason to suspect they might not have taken the step of mīlah]. (Rambam Hilchōt Issurei Bīah Chapter 13.9)
Beyond this, the Abayudaya have taken the additional step of educating themselves at every opportunity in all aspects of normative Judaism. Their adherence to the mitzvot, to the best of their regional ability, is not in question by anyone who has even a cursory knowledge of their community. To remove any doubts regarding their status as Jews, they underwent mass-giyurim early in the 21st century under Masorti rites.
While the Abayudaya Jewish Community is committed to the mitzvot, the do not have many sets of Tefillin, nor many Tallitot for prayer. In light of this community’s dedication to the Torah and Rabbinic Judaism,we have created “Tefillin for Ugandan Jews”; a sponsorship program which purchases and refurbishes tefillin for the Abuyudaya Jewish community of Uganda.
Currently, we can get the cost of each set of tefillin down to as low as $108 per set for a sponsored Ugandan Jew. We hope to get each set even lower, and we are trying to make arrangements right now to purchase a lot of them at a bulk rate. Additionally, we are working with a Jewish artist trained in applying the newer matte and gloss finishes to older tefillin.
If you are interested in sponsoring a set of tefillin for a Ugandan Jew:
Send $20 to Mikhah@gmail.com to donate a Tallit Gadol to the Jews of Uganda!
Send $96 + $15 shipping to Mikhah@gmail.com to donate a restored set of TEFILLIN for this CHEAP price to the same Jews of Uganda!
For those interested in donating used tefillin to be refurbished for the Ugandan Jewish community, send to the following address:
The Hashlamah Project
3195 Dayton-Xenia Rd. Ste 900 #228
Dayton, OH 45434
USA
You can also send a money order payable to “Hashlamah” to the same address to send the next set of tefillin to Uganda! Many thanks and blessings to all who help. Our Jewish brothers and sisters in Uganda need all the help we can give them!
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PunkTorah Radio: Outsiders
3 Adar I 5771 - February 7, 2011 By 2 Comments
Shalom y’all! This week Michael and Patrick talk more about being an “outsider” in a mainstream Jewish world. What does that even mean? You gotta listen to find out!
Also, click here to subscribe on iTunes! And tell your friends!
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Parshah Terumah: Tents and Tents-Ability
29 Shevat 5771 - February 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment
(Subscribe to R. Michael’s weekly D’var Torah at OneShul’s IndieYeshiva by clicking here)
In this week’s Torah portion, Hashem tells us all about the construction of the Sanctuary, how big each piece of acacia wood needs to be, what kind of cloth to make the tents and curtains out of, even how many boards to use when making the Sanctuary walls! (It’s 48, by the way.)
What we are seeing this week is G-d specifically communicating how to make a space in which to dwell, how to create a holy place to house G-d’s presence among us.
There are a few other things that stand out this week as well.
The people of Israel are called to bring offerings to help build the Sanctuary. Notice though, that they aren’t commanded to bring offerings, but Hashem says “from every person whose heart inspires him to generosity”. We are shown that the only way we can build a space for G-d to dwell among us is if we give freely and generously to make this space complete. It has to happen through our free will. G-d doesn’t just magically appear in our lives, we have to give to make it happen. And not only give, but work! Throughout the portion G-d tells us over and over, very specifically and repeating instructions many times, exactly how to build what is needed for Hashem’s presence to be amidst us. This tells us that not only to we have to give, but we have to work, and work hard. Anything that is worth doing is worth doing right. And G-d tells us so. Does Hashem really need a tent made of goat skins or gold covered acacia wood poles? Probably not. But we are called to give generously of our time, our sweat, and our prized possessions, in order to create a space of holiness in the world.
Another point is the constant demonstration that happens through the textile arts. Hashem says to make numerous multicolored curtains, and to connect them with each other with loops and clasps, so that, as the Torah says, “the Mishkan will be one”. Only through the presence of Hashem can the many become one, echad. This miracle of unity is only available through the power of Hashem’s presence.
Most strikingly, however, is the fact that this sanctuary that is being built is portable. The Israelites were to keep G-d’s presence with them wherever they went. G-d travels with us. G-d has brought us out of Mitzrayim, the narrow places, and reminds us that as long as we create that space, G-d will be with us.
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Star Wars and the Talmud
26 Shevat 5771 - January 31, 2011 By Leave a Comment
As the Talmud says, there’s nothing new under the sun. And since we’re huge Star Wars nerds here at PunkTorah, we wondered, “can the Talmud help us answer all the important fandom questions we have?”
Well, it did when we asked, “did Han Solo shoot first? And if so, was it the right thing to do?”
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Selling Your Daughter And Destructive Oxen: Parshah Mishpatim
20 Shevat 5771 - January 25, 2011 By 1 Comment
(Subscribe to R. Michael’s weekly D’var Torah at OneShul’s IndieYeshiva by clicking here)
Parshah Mishpatim is focused on, as the name implies, laws, mishpatim being the second word of the portion. In mishpatim Hashem jumps from giving us the Ten Commandments, the basis for our law, and begins to gives us the laws regarding, among many others things, slavery, selling your daughter before puberty, and what happens if you have an ox that destroys your neighbors home.
What does this have to do with us today? More than you may think!
First of all, the question needs to be asked, why, after setting down the ten commandments, the ten mitzvot that are the basis for our relationship with G-d and man, does Hashem run full speed into talking about some crazy slavery laws? For a few reasons.
1. We are watching as G-d takes a bad situation and makes it more fair and compassionate.
Slavery was a big reality at the time, no matter what reservations and objections we have today. G-d was taking what was a terrible practice and trying to humanize it.
Think about this, the Israelites were just freed from slavery in Egypt. G-d is saying, “Remember the hard lives you just had? Well guess what! You can’t do that to anyone else now either!” G-d is grabbing the reigns, so to speak, and gradually re-directing the course of reality. The argument goes that if G-d had come and said “No more slavery!” it would be like trying to teach a caveman to dial a cellphone. It is so outside their realm of understanding that they weren’t ready for it yet. In fact, at the time, being a “bondsman” was a way to sort of “fix your credit”. An Israelite was supposed to choose another Israelite over a slave of another nation, even if they “cost” more, to make sure that one tribesman helped another. And after six years, or the Jubiliee year, they were to be released from their bond. At least there was a light at the end of the tunnel.
2. G-d wants to show us that there is no “realm of religion” in the Creator’s eyes.
Unlike a Western point of view where religion deals solely with spirituality and ritual, or a separation of the Israelite “temple” and civil court, to be a true mensch (a good person) and a chassid (a pious person), you need to be “scrupulous in matters of civil and tort law”. Judaism knows no separation between the court and the Temple.
Ramban tells us that the civil law is an extension of the tenth commandment, forbidding covetousness. So in order to know what not to covet, we have to know the rights and property of others.
3. G-d doesn’t want us to struggle alone.
Towards the end of the portion we find the mention of lending money to our fellows without interest. In fact, the phrasing is “When you lend money”, not “if”. Lending to the poor is not an option, it is obligatory! The commentary states that not only are we to lend money with no expectation of invested return, but by lending, the Torah means attachment, to attach ourselves to their plight. They are not alone when they struggle, and that is what is most important, not letting others struggle alone.
Ultimately we see that in our lives as Jews, there is no realm too large or small where G-d cannot fit. Even in dealing with matters of seemingly unspiritual civil law, we find G-d. I invite you to take the opportunity to look for G-d. Look for G-d somewhere you may not have looked before. You might be surprised where G-d can be found.
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PunkTorah Radio: Living A Jewish Life Online
19 Shevat 5771 - January 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment
This week we discuss whether it is possible to live a Jewish life online. You probably already know our answer, but there’s more! And, Werewolf Bar Mitzvah! Aaah-ooooooooooooooh!
PunkTorah Radio: Living A Jewish Life Online
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