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Parsha Shemini: Living A Double Life (Lev. 9:1 – 11:47)

March 17, 2014 by Jeremiah

good-vs-bad

Leviticus can be a very daunting book, especially when you limit your Dvar to a very loose free association style discussion. In previous posts I mention for this Torah cycle I want to challenge myself by not relying on more scholarly Jew’s commentaries for my weekly Dvar but Leviticus is definitely a book where commentaries can become crucial. For me at least, this week’s portion Shemini is an exception. The life blood flowing from the beating heart of these chapters is separating the sacred from the profane.

Separation is something I have always naturally been good at. I have never lived a secret life I am just really good at compartmentalizing. As a child I had my religious friends and my secular friends, outside of birthday parties the two never mixed. Fast forward to my late teens and early twenties I was thought of as basically two completely different people, this was due primarily to working full time as a ravenous wild eyed prep cook with post shift partying requirements contrasted by my life as a hardcore kid running with a pack healthy eating and clean living punks. I never lived a lie I just didn’t spin hardcore records or eat steaks at work and drinking in back alleys before all ages shows was never my thing. Same guy just really good time management skills, but that doesn’t change the fact that co-workers thought I was joking about vegetarianism and some punks seemed surprised to occasionally witnessing me drinking out of a brown paper bag. This is exactly what Shemini is all about.

In chapter nine of Leviticus a sin offering is followed by a burnt offering which is then followed by a peace offering. The sequence of these offerings is not a coincidence they symbolize the separation of wickedness, atonement, and forgiveness. If we are unable to differentiate right from wrong and why we are right or wrong then we will be forced to remain in the proverbial wilderness. The wilderness is emotional instability, mental anguish, and physical pain only by identifying our faults and actively working to correct them will we be able to leave those burdens behind and move on to something so much greater.

To illustrate the criticality of this concept is the tragic story of Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu. These sons and brothers presented a “strange” fire which Hashem deemed profane and as punishment were consumed by sacred fire erupting from the Holy of Holies. The lesson here is Nadab and Abihu were unable to completely separate their former secular lives from their current sacred lives of Priests. If they had been able to separate who knows they may have played a much more important and positive role within Judaism.

Shemini concludes with a list of Kosher versus Non-Kosher animals. What is so important about this concept of Kosher is not the permission to kill and eat certain animals but demonstrating how important things you consume figuratively and literally are. The easiest way to remember which animals are Kosher is to look at their diets and determine if they are scavengers eating what has been left by others as waste. The lesson here is do not fill yourself with wasteful things because it will only hold you down.

Shemini teaches us how not to live in the wilderness but we have to choose to make that break and enter into a promised life.

Jeremiah@punktorah.org Twitter: @circlepitbimah

Filed Under: Community Member Blogs, Jewish Text (Torah/Haftarah/Talmud) Tagged With: abihu, Circle Pit The Bimah, convert to judaism, convert to judaism online, darshan yeshiva, hardcore, jeremiah satterfield, Leviticus, Nadab, online conversion, Parsha Shemini, patrick "aleph" beaulier, patrick aleph, punktorah, rabbi beaulier, rabbi patrick aleph beaulier, straight edge, the secret life

Parsha Tzav: Seriously Dude! Another Way Too Short Dvar or Have I Told You Lately That I Love You? (Lev. 6:1 – 8:36)

March 10, 2014 by Jeremiah

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Parsha Tzav is the continuation of Torah’s listing of which offerings require this or that and how those offerings should be ceremoniously carried out. Oh and once the list of offerings is complete Moses clothes Aaron and anoints him and his sons as Judaic Priests.

Tzav does not teach us anything new, but what it does do is reiterate important lessons. Making amends and how we present our outward selves are lessons already touched upon within Torah. So why the repeat and why not combine Vayikra and Tzav into one portion? The answer is simple, only people study Torah and its no secret that everyone likes to be reminded of things. This week as you meditate on and study Tzav look through your spiritual spy glass as you would in search of positive reinforcement. Its like being told by someone special that they love you over and over again.

What verbal and non-verbal reinforcement helps you to be a better Jew? Share in the comments below or send me a message: Jeremiah@punktorah.org Twitter: @circlepitbimah

Filed Under: Community Member Blogs, Jewish Text (Torah/Haftarah/Talmud) Tagged With: Circle Pit The Bimah, convert to judaism, convert to judaism online, darshan yeshiva, jeremiah satterfield, Leviticus, online conversion, Parsha Tzav, parshah tzav, patrick "aleph" beaulier, patrick aleph, punktorah, rabbi beaulier, rabbi patrick aleph beaulier

CPTB Split EP Vol. 4 (Behar and Bechukotai)

May 16, 2012 by Jeremiah

This week’s Torah portion is a double portion and continuing in the format used for other double portions the Dvar for this week will follow the split 7 inch record format where each chapter gets its own track. So here you have it folks Circle Pit The Bimah Split EP Vol. 4.

Parsha Behar (Leviticus 21:1 – 26:2)

1. Dominion, There Comes A Time. . .

Behar discusses how Hashem wants the land of His creation to be cultivated and managed. The first part in this week’s double portion establishes rules for farming and land “ownership.” Just beneath the surface a deeper current is flowing and that is the inevitable time when we must recognize our role and place in this world. The classless and environmental sustainability commandments for land management are given to a nomadic people before entering Zion as a lesson in self realization. We all must come to terms with where [Read more…]

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Parsha Emor: Rhymes with Restitution (Lev. 21:1 – 24:23)

May 10, 2012 by Jeremiah

Emor is an explosive portion. Within these four chapters commandments and prohibitions for or against everything from grooming, honor killing, mixed marriages, who to eat with, and what to do with a rabble rousing blasphemer are laid out. True, Emor’s target audience is the priestly cast and their families but the role of public opinion is modeled here and yet this week’s portion ends with restitution being paid in a suitable way by societal standards. Does this mean being Torah observant today prohibits daughter burning and blasphemer stoning? The answer to that is an unequivocal YES!

In this modern age we do not live in a tribal nomadic society drawn from ethno-religious lines. Jews can be found living just about everywhere in the world and our racial features are literally across the board. While we are all Jews our Jewish stories vary widely but this was not the case thousands of years ago. For example, if I were to be in an accident caused by another which resulted in the lose of an eye I do not want that person’s eye I would rather have my medical bills and any special needs taken care of financially. Because of the place and time an ancient Hebrew in the same situation was not in a position where monetary retribution for pain and medical treatment could easily happen.
Retribution is about making wrongs right not feeding a craving for vengeance.

While reading this week’s portion I’m reminded of something that happened to a very close friend of mine, we will call him H. In our hometown there was a punk infused heavy metal band associated with a large Born-Againer Christian Church. The metal fans in the area really weren’t into their style of metal and the local punks weren’t into their style of hardcore, this meant there fan base were only fellow congregants.

H gets invited to a birthday party where this band is booked to play, now H is not a Christian nor is he extremely religious he’s a mild mannered tattoo artist who finds solace chanting the Maha Mantra at the local Hare Khrisna farm. He shows up at this kid’s house and the place is full of people from this church, from small kids all the way to middle aged adults. As he told me this story he pointed out how uncomfortable he felt from basically being eye ball judged because of his heavily tattooed appearance.

As the band plays the chorus to one of their songs the word restitution is screamed in regards to J.C.’s crucifixion this causes something inside H’s head to snap and he reacts. As the chorus nears a second time H runs towards the make shift stage parting the sea of people in half, reaching out he grabs the mic, places his mouth over it and as clear as the moon on a cloudless summer night yells PROSTITUTION! Needless to say if looks could kill. . . kill they would have.

As an opened minded Jew I found H’s proclamation hilarious and while not blasphemous towards Judaism it is towards Christianity. Despite being in an enclave of the “saved” no one had a right to stone or burn H. In our society we can afford disinters because we are not nomadic, our resources are stable, and because of education it is harder for a rabble rouser to seriously challenge the moral and religious belief system that makes and keeps us Jewish.

In what other ways has the passing of time changed societies views on restitution? Leave a comment below or send me a message.

Jeremiah@punktorah.org Twitter: @circlepitbimah

Filed Under: Community Member Blogs, Jewish Text (Torah/Haftarah/Talmud) Tagged With: Circle Pit The Bimah, convert to judaism, convert to judaism online, darshan yeshiva, jeremiah, Leviticus, online conversion, Parsha Emor, patrick "aleph" beaulier, patrick aleph, punktorah, rabbi beaulier, rabbi patrick aleph beaulier

CPTB Split EP Vol. 3 (Acharei Mot and Kedoshim)

May 2, 2012 by Jeremiah

This week’s Torah portion is a double portion and continuing in the format used for other double portions the Dvar for this week will follow the split 7 inch record format where each chapter gets its own track. So here you have it folks Circle Pit The Bimah Split EP Vol. 3.

Parsha Acharei Mot (Leviticus 16:1 – 18:30)

1. You Say Yom KipPER, I Say Yom KipPOOR

I really like the sixteenth chapter of Leviticus and in a way I wish Acharei Mot was . . .you know “my portion” (I was born in November no such luck). In this chapter lots are cast to decide which animals are sacrificed and which animals are let loose into the wild for atonement. Oh and before I forget, this is the Yom Kippur part of the Torah. In a previous Dvar I mention how I became a zealous atheist at the age of thirteen which lasted until the ripe old age of twenty-two. I only bring this up again because Yom Kippur was the first mitzvah I kept after returning to the rank and file of our tribe and despite my views on animal sacrifice Acharei Mot remains very important to me.

2. Blood Free Youth.

In my notes for this section of Acharei Mot I have scribbled “quote chapter seventeen verse fourteen and be done with it.” It’s a great verse look it up, read it, and meditate on it, but this part is all about keeping Kosher, a blood free palate and more importantly promotes compassion. How can we as Jews and as a “Priestly People” promote the dignity and respect so inherent within our faith when we insist on picking and choosing what needs Tikkun Olem. Remember its repair the world, not repair the markets or an inflated sense of self worth. What we put inside of ourselves, whether its something physical like food or an ideological concept, will in turn emanate from us through our thoughts and actions.

3. No Harm No Foul.

Controversy! It goes without saying incest is not alright but is consensual male homosexuality really a sin, and what about female homosexuality? Look. . . .some real talk. . . I think the Torah’s wording in regards to homosexuality is presented in a way which allows for same sex relationships. Relationships of all types are complicated and narrowing everything down to a few lines here and there is never going to encapsulate every aspect of every relationship. I wish I had more to offer on this subject and on one hand I’m proud that I am not homophobic but on the other hand as a hetero its something I really don’t think about that often. Please feel free to discuss in the comments or send me a private message.

Parsha Kedoshim

1. Representative Eric be a CANtor not a CAN’Tor.

In this country, this country that I live in it is an election year. This means in November I will vote for candidates who feel the same way I do about issues important to me and against candidates that stand for issues important to people whose views I disagree with. Why is this important? Glad you asked Kedoshim is two chapters the first of which (being first makes it more important at least in my opinion) Hashem provides commandments to protect the earth, those less fortunate, and indirectly opposes classism. Sure, there is some stuff in there about getting tattoos, beard shaving, and ghost whispering but the fact remains the same Hashem wants us to occupy the world with justice, compassion, and equality.

2. Manifest Zion.

No two people are alike and Hashem knows this because that’s how He created us. Kedoshim concludes with some warnings and corporeal punishment commandments making this now complete portion appealing to both sides of the aisle. As an American living in the southwest it’s a little hard to think that the Navajo and Pueblo nations who first inhabited New Mexico were wicked and that’s why this area is now part of the United States of America (fun fact: not only is Albuquerque the city I call home but our first two mayors were Jewish, in fact Jews and New Mexico have a long and fruitful relationship going back to the mid 1800s). While I might have problems reconciling this concept others seem to truly understand it and are glad to be part of a nation who has helped de-wickedify (new word?) tyrannical regimes hoarding prosperity from everyone except themselves.

Jeremiah@punktorah.org Twitter: @circlepitbimah

Filed Under: Community Member Blogs, Jewish Text (Torah/Haftarah/Talmud) Tagged With: Circle Pit The Bimah, convert to judaism, convert to judaism online, darshan yeshiva, jeremiah, Leviticus, online conversion, Parsha Acharei Mot, Parsha Kedoshi, patrick "aleph" beaulier, patrick aleph, punktorah, rabbi beaulier, rabbi patrick aleph beaulier

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