Virtual Shabbat Box Archives: December 2022
December 30-31
Bryan Schwartzman reports on the pilgrimage to the South for Jews of African descent who serve as leaders of the Reconstructionist movement. Participants were able to engage in healing work and visit sites imbued with trauma within a Jewish and Black context.
President Joe Biden just signed into law the Respect for Marriage Act protecting the rights of same-sex and interracial couples to marry. Hila Ratzabi marks this historic occasion with a joyful blessing.
Though we continue to Zoom across geography, Jessica Moise-Grodsky’s blessing for scheduling a “Zoom Shabbat dinner” with some distant family, which she composed about two years ago in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, remains relevant for us today.
Rabbis Annie Lewis and Yosef Goldman created this ritual to mark the occasion of the first yahrzeit (anniversary of the death) of a loved one in one’s home, after sundown on the night of the yahrzeit.
Tiferet Welch’s poem drashes on what she sees to be the essence of this week’s par’shah: “The truth-telling of family can be a complicated business.”
December 23-24
This year Hanukkah and Kwanza overlap. According to Dr. Tarece Johnson, “these celebrations are an opportunity for us to reconnect with our community and remember the miracles of light, love and hope.”
Rabbi Jessica Lott teaches about the apocryphal story of Judith, a Jewish hero whose story is connected to Hanukkah.
Rabbi Jill Hammer explains that in North African countries, the seventh night of Hanukah, Judith’s night of triumph, was set aside as Hag haBanot, the “Festival of the Daughters,” which falls on Rosh Hodesh Tevet.
Ariel Neshame Lee created this meditation for the eighth night of Hanukkah, when we light eight candles. In Jewish mysticism, the number eight represents pure potentiality, transcendence, infinity.
The story of Hanukkah invites us to kindle lights in the darkness, and to overcome despair with hope and action. In this spirit, Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum reflects on the extraordinary work of her community, and how it embodies the fundamental connection between spiritual life and social activism.
December 16-17
Rabbi Jason Bonder discusses hanukkiyot, the Hanukkah menorah, and shows how to light the candles for the holiday.
Adva Chattler guides you in making a family Hanukkah favorite and cousin to the latke — aruk — as a delicious way to remember the miracle of the oil.
Bryan Schwartzman shows how the entire history of Hanukkah and its observance demonstrates the Reconstructionist understanding that Judaism is “the evolving religious civilization of the Jewish people.”
“Maoz Tzur” (“Rock of Ages”), is a Hanukkah classic. Rabbi Alan LaPayover demonstrates how a Reconstructionist take on this medieval poem reframes our understanding of the “Festival of Lights.”
We invite you to recite the Hanukkah blessings, composed by Kolot: The Center for Jewish Women’s and Gender Studies, on at least one night this year using the feminine pronouns for God. Does your sense of the Divine shift?
These discussion starters by Solomon Hoffman are as relevant now as they were in 2016. How do we grapple with and respond to this moment in America and more deeply explore each of our own identities?
Using this Hanukkah folktale, George Kelley explores how sometimes when seeking justice, we need to find how to get out of our own way.
Cara Hamilton likes to read a poem at the moment the candles go out, – a bit of solitude when the lights are gone.
December 9-10
As the days get shorter and darker, Rabbi Janet Madden’s poem anticipates the illumination that will come with the “Festival of Lights.”
Rabbi Jay Michaelson separates myth from fact and explains why Jacob Frank’s radical philosophy may have been a precursor to how many non-Orthodox Jews relate to the tradition today.
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.
Rabbi Shelia Peltz Weinberg guides us in imagining a star in the sky — warm, soothing light just for you.
In this poem, Tiferet Welch has taken some of the mystical meanings of the Hebrew letters of Shir Hashirim, “The Song of Songs,” and written them into stanzas.
December 2-3
The time of Covid has changed religious communities. And according to the Rev. Katie Day two high-profile events and the rise of antisemitism (and all hate crimes) have transformed our understanding of security. But is it in ways we would rather not have changed?
In the wake of recent shootings Alden Solovy’s poem is all too timely and relevant again and speaks to our communal grief, anger and exasperation.
Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg leads this meditation, which is a good practice anytime that you find yourself stressed, confused or fearful.
From a conversation preceding the holiday of Shavu’ot Rabbis Jeremy Schwartz and Deborah Waxman speak about modern Hebrew poetry and how modern Hebrew poets take apart traditional language and ideas and create something new from ancient building blocks.
As a nod to our father Jacob, who dreamed a dream of angels, we present this poem by Suzanne Sabransky.
