Memories and considerations as to what a chavurah can be/become bring up the revolutionary roots of the chavurah in the evolution of Judaism. Gathering with various Jews and non Jews to meet on a regular basis, to study, to pray to whatever one believes to be of significance, and of course to share pot luck […]
The joy of the Ruach Shalom gatherings Read More »
We sit in the sukkah and look up through the roof at the sky.Will there be rain, storm, heat, drought? That is important to know for the next harvest. We also look up at the sky, hoping for a year of health and safety. The sukkah is there to remind us that nature and life
Lior is currently in Jerusalem, learning at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies. Lior wrote the below text and made a serie of photos that capture the mood in the city. Note: The video of the commissioning of the torah scroll dedicated to the hostages by the family of hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin was shared in
I recite by memory the Shemaeach night before I fall asleep.Just in case. I eat a hearty breakfasteach morning.Just in case. I pay my bills on time.Just in case. I pray to an invisible God.Just in case. I live each dayas best I can.Just in case. -poem written by Sauci
A leap year in the Jewish calendar is called a Shana Me’uberet. According to ancient calculations, made by R. Hillel II around 670 CE and recorded in the Mishna, this is the way to celebrate every Jewish holiday in the right season as described in the Torah. Passover should be celebrated in spring and Sukkot
Shana Me’uberet, a pregnant year Read More »
It is always a pleasure to welcome the Shabbat with Ruach Shalom. Prepping soup and tasty dishes to be shared is a joy. This past Shabbat was unique in that Bob Newmark celebrated his 78 birthday with us and that I prepared Parashat Vayigash for the service. Parashat Vayigash describes a coincidence of meetings with
At first glance, Bava Batra, described by Sefaria as “relationships between neighbours, land ownership, sales, and inheritance,” seems as dry as dust and almost as much fun as filling in a tax form in your third language. The opening Mishnah does little to dispel my assumption: Bava Batra 2a: Mishnah: Partners who wished to make
Walls and Partitions Read More »
I entered the gate of the adobe rust-colored wall and found myself inside a paradise garden, perfect in all its beauty. I sat down in the shade of a luscious Jacaranda tree, admiring the hues, the flowers, the trees, awake with the singing of birds. A place favored by the wealthy, I felt an outsider,
Bava Batra (the last gate) – The walls of Marrakesh Read More »
When I was in elementary school in the fifth grade (in the 50’s!), we began a club. A secret club, of course, exciting! We started with about 10 children, who all wanted to do something together. But what? That was never really clear, except for eating candy and drinking lemonade together. It diluted quickly, and
Ruach Shalom, where do we go from here? Read More »
For the last month I’ve had the extraordinary good fortune to be in Scotland studying at a Beit Midrash. Azara UK opened the first nondenominational yeshiva in Europe on the 21st of June and I was part of the first cohort of students learning Gemara, Torah, Halakhah, Biblical Hebrew, Aramaic, along with numerous other classes
Opening the Beit Midrash Read More »
