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As we light the Shabbat candles, this prayer by Trish Arlin reminds us that “we are holy with the obligation to speak goodness and do good.” Sourced from Ritualwell
Rabbi Maurice Harris takes a closer look at the Egyptian midwives of parashat Sh’mot, who defied Pharoah’s orders and saved the Israelite sons from drowning. Sourced from ReconstructingJudaism.org
Tiferet Welch recites her poem, which reflects parashat Sh’mot and the times we are living through. Sourced from Ritualwell
As the secular New Year approaches and we flounder in a “time of mass insanity, a constellation of hardships and trials,” let us pray with Suzanne Sabransky, to “stop the pain, frustration, and smoldering anger.” Sourced from Ritualwell
Minna Scherlinder Morse, a writer, editor, and adoptive parent, examines adoption from a Jewish ethical lens, suggesting that the reality and history are far more nuanced than usually thought. Sourced from Evolve: Groundbreaking Jewish Conversations
This poem by Cathleen Cohen is inspired by and reflects on this week’s Torah portion. Sourced from Ritualwell
The ritual of sh’mirah refers to the practice of watching over the body of a deceased person between the time of death and burial. Beth Hamon wrote this song while serving as a shomer, one of the most profound and humbling things she has ever done. Sourced from Ritualwell
“The eco-kashrut movement is an attempt to marry the values embodied in Torah with an awareness of the challenging realities of our time,” writes Lisa Braun Glazer, Ph.D. Sourced from Evolve: Groundbreaking Jewish Conversations
This song — written, composed, and performed by Rabbi Margot Stein — is a setting for the blessing created by Rabbi Jeremy Schwartz. Rabbi Shawn Zevit plays the guitar. Sourced from Ritualwell
Rabbi Mackenzie Reynolds teaches from this week’s parashah that “our actions in this world can and do have many motivations,” but “we build and strengthen our communities and neighbors with love.” Sourced from ReconstructingJudaism.org
Devon Spier’s poem reflects on the verse, higdil Adonay la’asot imanu, hayinu s’meyhim, “Adonay will do great things for us, and we shall rejoice.” (Psalm 126) Sourced from Ritualwell
The recitation of Psalms has been a traditional Jewish response to illness and other personal and communal struggles for ages. Rabbi Vivie Mayer chants Psalms 70 and 130 and raises up from our deepest places our need to be heard. Sourced from Ritualwell
Psalms 70 and 130 chanted in Hebrew and read in English by Rabbi Vivie Mayer of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College from Reconstructing Judaism on Vimeo.
Rabbi Steven Carr Reuben teaches from this week’s parashah: “Each of us has the chance over and over in our lives to transcend difficult experiences of the past, to find a renewed sense of purpose and meaning in our relationships, struggles, triumphs, and even tragedies.” Sourced from ReconstructingJudaism.org
What happened when Dr. Seuss inspired Rabbi Leiah Moser to rethink the Shema? Sourced from Ritualwell
“Our tradition has long recognized a duty to heal, which applies first to those most immediately around the individual. With that largely accomplished in the United States and Israel,” says Rabbi David Teutsch, “I would argue that the responsibility to heal extends urgently to the rest of the world.” Sourced from Evolve: Groundbreaking Jewish Conversations
Cathleen Cohen’s poem speaks for both the light of Shabbat and those of the eight days of Hanukkah. Sourced from Ritualwell
“These lights of ours are holy for all eight days of Hanukkah” was written and performed by Shira Weidenbaum and Andrea Simms-Karp. Sourced from Ritualwell
According to Rabbi Elizabeth Bolton, Joseph, the dreamer, “is doing some of his own wrestling, coming to grips with the cards he has been dealt, the fate predicted in the realm of dreams.” Sourced from ReconstructingJudaism.org
This meditation, adapted for Hanukkah by Rabbi Hannah Nathans, is inspired by the meditation of the Piasetzner rebbe, Rabbi Kalonymos Kalman Shapira, and is about the hinukh of our souls — learning to realize its potential. Sourced from Ritualwell
Meditation for Hanukkah with Rabbi Hannah Nathans from Reconstructing Judaism on Vimeo.
What kind of miracle can we hope for this Hanukkah? Sara Stock Mayo offers this suggestion. Sourced from Ritualwell
These resources were drawn from:
Previous Virtual Shabbat Boxes by month:
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Training the next generation of groundbreaking rabbis
Modeling respectful conversations on pressing Jewish issues
Curating original, Jewish rituals, and convening Jewish creatives
