PunkTorah

Independent Jewish Spirituality Online

  • Convert to Judaism
  • Online Rabbinical Program
  • Donate

V‘zot HaBerachah: Well “They“ Killed Moses (Deut 33:1 – 34:12)

October 4, 2012 by Jeremiah

The life cycle that was and is the Torah cycle of 5772 is at an end, what began with a beginning for everything is now ending with the death and burial of just one man…Moses.

I often wonder what exactly did Moses see as he gazed into the Promised Land from a far. Did he see Israel as it was at that time? Was he seeing the rule of King David? The establishment of Modern Israel or the Messianic Age? I really do not think what he saw matters because whatever reflected through his pupils is the last thing he experienced. The point I am meandering around is maybe Moses’ death blow was delivered by Hashem via Eretz Israel.

A close friend of mine married the grand daughter of a South Vietnamese hotel tycoon, when it became apparent that Vietnam was to unite under a communist system he suffered a massive heart attack [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community Member Blogs, Jewish Text (Torah/Haftarah/Talmud) Tagged With: Afterlife, Circle Pit The Bimah, convert to judaism, convert to judaism online, darshan yeshiva, death, Deuteronomy, jeremiah, Moses, online conversion, Parsha V'zot HaBerachah, patrick "aleph" beaulier, patrick aleph, punktorah, rabbi beaulier, rabbi patrick aleph beaulier, Reincarnation, Resurrection

Bernard Klein: God, Singing and the Death of a Child

October 17, 2011 by Patrick Beaulier

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJaZRZWYkO8

God as the great force of thought and movement. Filmed at Congregation Beth Israel, Portland, OR. The G-d Project is the world’s first social media platform dedicated to Jewish spirituality. Visit www.theg-dproject.org

Filed Under: Judaism & Belief, Podcasts & Videos, The G-d Project Videos Tagged With: Bernard Klein, congregation beth israel, convert to judaism, convert to judaism online, darshan yeshiva, death, jewish singing, judaism and dying, online conversion, patrick "aleph" beaulier, patrick aleph, portland, punktorah, rabbi beaulier, rabbi patrick aleph beaulier

Norway, Amy Winehouse and My Guinea Pig: Why G-d Really Sucks Sometimes

July 24, 2011 by Patrick Beaulier

Is the world going straight to hell? Is God completely out of the picture? Three things happened this Shabbat that made me doubt my faith.

First, it was the pre-Shabbat death of my guinea pig, Mr. Bacon Sandwich. That morning, his eyes were weak and covered in goop. I asked my wife if we should take him to the vet. She replied, “his time is near.” I gave him some fresh romaine, wiped his eyes and he made his cute “qui!” noise. That was that. I checked back on him an hour later and he had crawled over to his water bottle, buried his head under the pine shavings, and passed on. I wrapped him in a white towel and buried him in my in-laws back yard. The shattered pieces of his ceramic food bowl is his grave marker.

Later, my wife informs me of a shooting in Norway. Turned out to be a terrorist attack on a youth camp and government buildings by a neo-Nazi. I shuttered to imagine the horror that the families in Oslo must be going through. To hear as well that the man who committed the act under the belief that it was the Christian thing to do made me cringe. I can understand God challenging me to accept the death of a pet, but to allow someone to commit violence in his name? G-d forbid.

And as Shabbat wound down, and I got back on my computer, another tragedy: the death of  celebrated R&B singer Amy Winehouse from a seizure, most likely the result of years of drug abuse.

I’ve had some terrible bosses in my day. Really terrible. But God, by far, is the worst boss I have ever had.

When a Jew hears bad news, it’s custom to say, “blessed are you, Lord our God, king of the Universe, who is the true judge.” Tonight, I can’t proclaim God’s greatness. But God willing, I will find the power to forgive God for his own shortcomings.

Filed Under: Random (Feelin' Lucky?) Tagged With: amy winehouse, convert to judaism, convert to judaism online, darshan yeshiva, death, jewish theodicy, judaism and death, kaddish, mourning, norway, online conversion, patrick "aleph" beaulier, patrick aleph, punktorah, rabbi beaulier, rabbi patrick aleph beaulier, theodicy

PunkTorah Inc.
PO Box 1641
Midlothian, VA 23113

questions@punktorah.org
YouTube
Facebook

Read our DMCA notice

Search the PunkTorah Blog Archive

What We Do

Pluralistic Rabbinical Seminary: Online Rabbinical Program

Now Hiring: Rabbis, Educators & Creatives

Become a Jewish Spiritual Leader

  • Jewish Text (Torah/Haftarah/Talmud)
  • Judaism & Belief
  • The G-d Project Videos
  • Podcasts & Videos
  • NewKosher (Recipes)
  • Converting To Judaism
  • LGBTQ & Women
  • Shabbat & Holidays

Copyright PunkTorah Inc.© 2023