Tag: spirituality
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Vayetze 5781 — The Humanity Of Our Ancestors
There’s something so richly rewarding about returning again and again to our foundational stories in sefer Bereshit year after year. As we learn in Perkei Avot, often translated imprecisely as ethics of our fathers, turn it turn it, for everything is in it. I approach Torah year after year with…
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Bereshit 5781
After a Tishrei like no other, here we are, beginning our Torah anew, just as we do every year. Bereshit, like all of the parshiyot in Genesis is filled with foundational ideas and narratives. In the opening perek/chapter, we are told that human beings are created b’tzelem Elokim—in the image…
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Bahaalotekha 5780
Our parsha or Torah portion this week is parashat Bahaalotekha, the third parsha in Sefer Bamidbar or the book of Numbers. We are introduced to Pesach Sheni or Second Passover in this parsha, which was instituted upon request of some Israelites who were unable to offer the Passover sacrifice at…
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Grief, Mourning and Rage: A Spiritual Response and Call To Action for White Folks
In this audio teaching, I offer a response for this moment. Grief, Mourning and Rage: A Spiritual Response For This Moment
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Kedoshim 5779
It has become something of a cliché in the circles I run in these days that when a teacher of Torah or a clergyperson from any religious tradition, for that matter, sits down to write a sermon, the sermon they often write is that which they most need to hear.…
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Tetzaveh 5779
This dvar Torah was delivered at Anshe Emet in Chicago. Parashat Tetzaveh, 11 Adar Rishon, 5779 Shabbat shalom! It is an honor and privilege to be with you this Shabbat. I wish to extend a sincere thanks to the Kehilah Kedoshah committee, as well as to the Anshe Emet clergy…
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Reflections on the Spiritual Practice of Hitbodedut
This reflection was written in 5777/2017. Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, Section 25 of Likutey Moharan on Hitbodedut A person should set aside a set time daily to speak with God freely in their vernacular, instructs Rabbi Nachman of Breslov to his students and disciples. This daily practice, an addition to…
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Chanukah 5779
There is a short passage in the Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 21B in which the rabbis are debating and discussing some of the specifics around lighting the Chanukah menorah. One of the questions they ask is, do we begin Chanukah by lighting all eight candles in the chanukiyah and then decrease…
Rabbi Lauren Tuchman 