This week’s Torah portion, Vayishlah, contains the story of the reconciliation between Isaac’s sons, Jacob and Esau. Rabbi Lewis Eron teaches how reconciliation goes hand-in-hand with spiritual maturity and emotional growth.
Performed by Dr. Koach Baruch Frazier and Marques Hollie for “Reconstructing the Voice of Leadership: A Day of Giving to Support Jews of Color.”
According to Rabbi Lewis Eron, “by telling us so little about Abraham’s peaceful second life, our ancestors did not write Abraham out of the story but gave him and us the opportunity to explore the special blessings we can find as we live our second lives.”
Reconstructing Judaism commissioned two Black Jewish artists affiliated with the movement — Ayeola Omolara Kaplan and Marjorie Attingol Salvodon — to respond to last year’s Movement Wide Day of Learning on Reparations. Those works were installed on the walls of the Reconstructing Rabbinical College’s suburban Philadelphia building during a Sept.
Rabbi Steven Nathan teaches that this story can serve as a warning to us today: The desire for wealth and security is a natural and healthy drive, but if we are not careful, it can overtake us and, in its extreme form, threaten us with economic and social destruction.
Shekhinah Speaks, by Joy Ladin, gives voice to the Divine Feminine by remixing language from the book of Isaiah and Cosmopolitan magazine. There Are Still Woods by Hila Ratzabi is an urgent, prayerful book of poems responding to the climate crisis and includes the voices of spirits, gods and goddesses
Rabbi Jonathan Kligler teaches that as Abraham’s spiritual journey continues, the commitment he makes to be vulnerable and open is going to allow himself and Sarah to conceive a child, to be vessels of life.
Poet and director of Ritualwell Hila Ratzabi discusses creativity and the role it plays in her life and its valuable place in Jewish civilization.
“It is our work in the world with the people in our lives,” teaches Rabbi Steven Nathen, “that enable us to find God. Only then can we truly be rewarded with the experience of the holiness and peace that is represented by Shabbat.”
Serving as central organization of the Reconstructionist movement
Training the next generation of groundbreaking rabbis
Modeling respectful conversations on pressing Jewish issues
Curating original, Jewish rituals, and convening Jewish creatives
