PunkTorah

Independent Jewish Spirituality Online

  • Convert to Judaism
  • Online Rabbinical Program
  • Donate

Portland’s Light Rail and Parshah Matot Massei

July 3, 2013 by Patrick Beaulier

PortlandTriMetMAX

In this week’s Torah portion, we’re going to talk about zoning laws!

Please, try to contain your excitement here folks.

Actually, the double portion has an enlightening series of commandment regarding how the Israelites should set up their permanent home, and frankly, it does read like an ancient zoning and mass transit “Smart Growth” plan.

Now, about light rail.

I have experience with light rail because I used to hang out in Portland, Oregon a lot. And light rail there is as important as yeast in challah. I just got used to it, and missed it when I moved to Atlanta, my current home.

I never understood why Portland was able to enact legislation for light rail when Atlanta couldn’t. Mind you, I’m not using this website to advocate for or against any issue. I’m really just curious about why Oregon could do it, but Georgia can’t. Frankly, more people benefit from light rail here than out there, and we already have an infrastructure for it.

Then I read an article about the opponents of light rail in Atlanta. Interestingly enough, the key issue was not that they were against public transit, or against the tax increase to pay for it. Rather, they didn’t trust MARTA (the transit authority) to run the new train system.

Trust is key here. Just as the Israelites trusted God, and were therefore able to build Biblical society, so must we understand that today, the only way to get anything meaningfully done is if the will of the people aligns with those in power.

Matot Massei (Circle Pit the Bimah)

Is God Blood Thirsty? (PunkTorah TV)

Filed Under: Jewish Text (Torah/Haftarah/Talmud), Judaism & Belief, Random (Feelin' Lucky?), Rants Tagged With: convert to judaism, convert to judaism online, darshan yeshiva, online conversion, Parsha Masei, Parsha Matot, patrick "aleph" beaulier, patrick aleph, punktorah, rabbi beaulier, rabbi patrick aleph beaulier, weekly torah portion

CPTB Split EP Vol. 5 (Matot and Masei)

July 19, 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. 5…

Parsha Matot (Numbers 30:2 – 32:42)

1. The Oath That Keeps Me Free

Parsha Matot begins with a discussion on everything to do with oaths. Each and every one of us has at some point taken an oath and kept it but we have all deliberately and accidentally broken well intentioned promises. Oaths, when made, form an emotional bond with the taker and any witnesses admitting later that you broke something that important can really take a mental toll. Torah a lot of times gets a bad rap from detractors with claims of sexism, racism, and calls to violence but what is [Read more…]

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

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