PunkTorah

Independent Jewish Spirituality Online

CPTB Split EP Vol. 4 (Behar and Bechukotai)

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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…]

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

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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

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

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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

Parsha Vayigash: Brother of Mercy (Gen 44:18 – 47:27)

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Seriously, is there anyone out there who does not like a nice happy ending? The previous portions dealing with Joseph are burdened with some really heavy events, for someone with so many highs and lows in their life it is kind of nice that his story ends relatively quiet and understated. Vayigash is the portion where Joseph breaks into tears revealing himself to his brothers, he is reunited with his beloved and in a way estranged father, and he relocates his entire family to Egypt so they will be closer to him.

Joseph up until this point is the quintessential conservative archetype, he worked hard building himself up in wealth and power while maintaining an uncompromising stance in blind faith and “got over” being a slave and prisoner. The Joseph of Vayigash is the polar opposite of this approach, he provides land for his reconciled family to live on using his status as a statesmen, he also negotiates with the populace securing all the land and resources in Egypt for Pharaoh and his government creating a socialized large government, and it works with great success.

What really stood out to me this week is what transpires at the end of the Parsha, where Joseph barters back the land of Egypt from the locals for Pharaoh. As much as I might try to block out what is about to happen in the coming week’s portions in regards to the Hebrews in Egypt I just can not do it. People are not born racist, they are taught racism and yet in a way you can’t teach racism because when you think about it being racist is an impossible state of being for humans what is not is being an “economist.” Living my entire life in the United States stereotypically Jews and East Asians are viewed as smart and crafty but not industrious, anyone with black or brown skin is often portrayed as lazy and dim witted and of course not industrious. The industrious people of American society are the white Christians all of whom have built and maintain the only world super power. This is all ridiculous non-sense but we can see a parallel with our modern society and ancient Egypt. The Torah never mentions Joseph hiding the fact he was a foreign ex-slave who served hard time in prison, because he was able to provide for everyone he was excepted and loved as was his tribe by proxy. As the generations passed the Egyptians forgot about how Joseph showed mercy and treated all like a brother and his kinsmen became the others of society and thus a liability.

What do you think? Was Joseph driven by mercy? How has your views on other cultures within your own changed over the years? Please share post a comment below or send me a message jeremiah@punktorah.org Twitter: circlepitbimah.

Parsha Vayeshev: Meanwhile. . . (Gen 37:1 – 40:23)

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Every week I follow a certain process as I approach each Torah portion. On Monday morning when that week’s Dvar is made available to anyone who wants to invest two or three minutes of their life reading my thoughts on a small slice of Torah, I am preparing the following week’s portion scribbling down a sentence or two for each chapter. I then set those notes aside go back to living my life while my subconscious and Torah court each other resulting in a marriage of insight I capture the following day in words. Well, that didn’t really work so well this week. Of course I did my part, while you were reading Vayishlach last Monday morning I was reading Vayeshev just as my process demands, but here I am on a Sunday a full seven days later still drawing a blank. What to do? What to do? Skipping a Dvar is just not an option it is not fair to you or me.

Vayeshev is the story of Joseph, his coat, his many brothers, his relationship with Mr. and Mrs. Potiphar, and his interactions with the chief Baker and Butler of Pharaoh’s court. If that is not enough for you an interlude involving Judah, his daughter-in-law and the conception and birth of their twin sons Zerah and Perez takes place.

Maybe I approached this week’s portion with a cocky naivety, can you blame me? Vayeshev’s brim is overflowing with people who can just as easily play the hero as well as the villain. All four chapters are full of jealousy, deceit, envy, and self centeredness only to be garnished with modesty, self realization, spiritual growth, and overcoming the hurdles of life, and yet I have nothing insightful to share. In fact I had for lack of a better term an Anti-Vayeshev week. I had a great week. I work from home the majority of the time so when it snowed I was happy to camp out indoors and admire the winter wonderland from my windows and balcony. A couple days after being snowed in the temperature dropped to single digits during the day and sub-zero temperatures over night, again no worries my home is warm and I didn’t have to venture out. Towards the end of the week I went to a surprise party for my best friend, and I received a lot of recognition from my boss for going above and beyond this past year for the company I consult for. I lead a rough life.

As one week ends and the next begins I am looking forward to gleaning spiritual nutrition from the various commentaries I listen to and read which will only help me grow in a way where any arrogance sprouting within me will be plucked like a weed in a garden before causing ill intent in others, where I will not let jealousy drive my actions, and where I will have the foresight to avoid acts which will later result in being outed as a hypocrite.

How does the lessons found within Vayeshev aid you in your day to day acts? What advice can you offer the rest of us? We want to know comment below or send me a message. jeremiah@punktorah.org Twitter: CirclePitBimah.

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