Hineni (Here I Am)

  On this Shabbat, we enter into the last book of the Torah. We begin the book of Devarim also known as the Deuteronomy.  In Hebrew, Devarim means words and this book consists almost entirely of the final words of Moses, it is his farewell address to the Israelites. Oddly, this is the man who once tried to turn down the job on the grounds that he was not “a man of words.” As we begin Devarim the Israelites are standing on the bank of the Jordan River, poised to cross over and enter, finally, into the Promised Land. Moses stands for the last time before the people he has led for the past forty years, knowing that his days of leadership, and days of life, are coming to an end, and that he himself would not be allowed to enter into the Land. It is under these sad and dramatic circumstances that Moses launches into his final speech. If you knew you had one speech left to give what would it be how would you leave your mark on this earth. What message would you deliver? I imagine you would also remember the fun times and the sad times together. You might even Lament a little.  Shabbat evening we begin the Jewish holiday of Tisha B’av. Tisha B’Av is the ninth day of the Jewish month of Av and it is regarded as the saddest day in the Jewish calendar.  On this day, the ninth of Av, a series of major tragedies of the Jewish people occurred including the destruction of the first and second temples in Jerusalem, massacres, pogroms expulsions Tisha B’av is A day that many believe is a day destined for tragedy. On this day we mourn and read from the book of lamentations and we lament. We ask Why? And How  In the wake of the horrific tragedies that we experiencing as a nation, such mass shootings, family separations I take a note from the book of psalms and ask ad matai - how long will this go on? … How long will you feed your people tears as their daily bread, making them drink great measures of tears?” (Psalm 80:4-5).  The end of the book of Lamentations asks God “why have you forsaken us and then pleads for us to be restored, for God to take us back and renew our days of old. Please take this time, this Shabbat, this holiday of Tisha B’av to sit with where we are as a people, where are we as a nation and we too can be restored to the days of old.

The Cloud is a guiding force for the Israelites and for all of us 

On November 1, 2018 I gave a talk on Authentic Identities at Elon University, where I serve as the Campus Rabbi. The talk was shortly after the horrible events in Kentucky and Pittsburgh. I shared my story and journey of becoming a Jew and a rabbi. I talked about the racism I face in the Jewish community, antisemitism and our current political rhetoric. I hope you enjoy this special episode. 

In honor of Rosh Hodesh. I am dedicating this week's Minutes of Torah to all the women who have felt silenced 

Welcome to Episode 59 of Hineni Jewish Prayer. Today we will focus on the prayer that is often called the bathroom blessing. Thanking God for allowing one to do their business in the morning. I don't see this blessing as simple a bathroom blessing. I see it as a blessing thanking God for creating me exactly who I am

Welcome to this episode of Minutes of Torah. This past week has been hard for many of us and I am dedicating this podcast to speak about the violence in our country. Olam Hesed Yibaneh -We will build this world of love

This week we are in the Torah Portion Vayeira. My plan for today was to continue our conversation on faith but something jumped out at me as I was reading this week’s torah portion. So today we will talk about faith and Justice.

This week we have another story about going out on faith. This week we read Torah portion Lech Lecha which means to Go forth or let’s Go.

This week we enter into the Torah Portion Noach where God tells Noah to build an enormous Ark. God instructs Noah to build this Ark because God is going to destroy the world with a massive flood. Now keep in mind that Noah probably lives nowhere near water and I’m sure he thought “This is a Crazy idea!” but on faith and faith alone Noah builds the Ark as God has instructed him to do so.  So, What is Faith?

This week’s torah portion is all about creation; creation of the world and all things that dwell on the earth. We learn that Human beings are created B'tzelem Elohim, in the image of God.

In this week’s Torah portion Balak.  Fear of the other is alive and well. The text opens with a fearful king dreading the arrival of the Israelites to his land of Moab. He tells the elders in Number 22:4 what he believes about the Israelites he says “Now this horde will lick clean all that is about us as an ox licks up the grass field”

One of the things that I love about the weekly  Torah portion is that so often when I need a passage to speak to me about what is happening in our world today the words are there on the page and they jump out out at me.  This week we are in the Torah portion Chukat. 

Every Spring we begin counting the Omer on the second night of Passover. What is an Omer? The Omer is a sheaf or a measure of barley or wheat. The Omer is also the name for the 7 week period of time between Passover and and the holiday of Shavuot. On Passover we celebrate our freedom from slavery and bondage and on Shavuot we celebrate receiving the Torah on Mount Sinai as free people. In ancient times, the Omer period was significant agriculturally as it marked the period of time between planting and the spring and summer harvests. Over time, Jewish mystical tradition connected the Omer period with spiritual practices, about refining the soul, so we are ready to receive the Torah at Sinai So, Why do we count? 

Episode 50 Jewish Prayer Elohai Nehsama God Don't Make Junk

This coming shabbat is the start of passover we also call this holiday zman cherutainu - זְמָן חֵרוּתֵנוּ - a time of our freedom.

This week week we are in the the Torah portion Tzav. And I want to talk about giving thanks. In this week’s torah portion We learn that one who offers a korban aka sacrifice for the purpose of giving thanks must eat that korban on the day when it is offered and none of it shall be set aside until morning.

What is your purpose in life? Are you called to something?

My thoughts on the Torah portion Mikeitz and Hanukkah

Joseph is someone who dared to be different and he dared to dream big. In what ways are you like Joseph.

We are often reminded of the awesomeness of God in the spectacular moments in our lives and those are moments when we may find ourselves especially open to a connection with God But it's also possible to experience God's presence in the mundane everyday moments of our lives. And then like Jacob we can exclaim "God is in this place"

There is a lot happening in this week’s Torah Portion. Do you have a sibling? Are you rivals? Check out this week’s podcast.

Let’s talk about what it means to be a good host. In this week’s podcast, we have two examples of hospitality, one good and one gone mad.

Was Noah a Righteous Dude?

I’ve spent quite a bit of time thinking about the kind of Jewish community that I want to help build and be a part of, not just as a Rabbi but as a member of the community. It’s important for me as a rabbinical student and future Rabbi to find ways to connect with as many Jews as possible.

"A universal truth in Christianity, Judaism and Islam is the idea of treating others the way we want to be treated. Or Love your neighbor as yourself. This is often referred to the Golden rule. " if you enjoyed this episode, checkout my show notes and more at https://www.sandrajlawson.com/jewish-prayer/39

Episode 38: Days of Awe by Sandra Lawson

I'm really excited about this podcast. I've made some changes and I hope you like them. We are entering the holiest time of the year beginning with the Jewish New Year Rosh Hashanah. This week’s Torah portion is a double portion Nitzavim - Vayeilech. We have come to the last day of Moses' life and he has gathered all of Israel, one final pep talk. Moses tells them that if they observe the commandments, great things will happen to them but if they don't and they get to the other side and decide to forsake god then bad things will happen. He’s like look You can choose to be happy and have joy in your life or to be unhappy and complain. You can be Be thankful or not. You have the choice of life and death, blessing and curse I want you to choose life.

This is our first episode on Jewish Prayer. Let’s Talk about Modah Ani or if you identify as male it’s Modeh Ani I really am a morning and it’s so important to start your day off with gratitidude. Modeh/Modah Ani: מודה אני לפניך מלך חי וקים שהחזרת בי נשמתי בחמלה, רבה אמונתך. Modeh/Modah ani lifanecha ruach chai v’kayam shehechezarta bi nishmahti b’chemlah, rabah emunatecha. I offer thanks to You, God, for You have restored my soul within me; You God are awesome. Modeh/Modah is said immediately upon rising before we get out of bed and should be the first words we utter every morning. When we recite Modeh/Modah Ani we are essentially thanking G-d for giving us another day. We wake up grateful instead of thinking about what may have happened the previous day and our first conscious thoughts are spent expressing, “thank you.” I understand that things are not always great and there are often rough times but it’s nice to wake up and kind of remind ourselves to be thankful instead of thinking about the stuff that weighs us down. Basically if we wake up with a sentiment of gratitude, we feel grateful, and we can continue with a more positive day.

In this episode I'm discussing future changes for the podcast

Episode 34: Minutes of Torah -Ki Tavo - Remember Where You Came From by Sandra Lawson

Episode 33: Minutes of Torah Ki Teitzei - Be Mindful of Our Behavior by Sandra Lawson

This week's Torah portion urges us repeatedly to pursue justice. The Torah uses the phrase “Tzedek tzedek tirdof” צֶדֶק צֶדֶק, תִּרְדֹּף (“Justice, justice, you shall pursue”) The verb tirdof is in the imperative, commanding us to engage in the work at hand. It teaches us to pursue the goal of Justice through means that are just and teaches us: Justice for ourselves and justice for the other.

We are human beings with free will and we get to choose the right and just path. The right path is to follow God and strive to always do what is right.

This is the last Torah Portion from the book of numbers. The Israelites are so close to the promised land but before they can enter the promised land God tells Moses that they must create cities of refuge. Today we might call them Sanctuary cities. Today when we are talking about Sanctuary cities we are talking about protecting undocumented immigrants in the United States. The Torah Laws related to the cities of refuge are unique. The Torah says that when a person accidentally kills another person he may flee to one of these cities. The Torah says that as long as a person is within the boundaries of one of these cities they will be protected. These cities were intended for everyone, Israelites, and non-Israelites all were protected by God. This week’s Torah portion is talking about people who accidentally kill but I can’t help but draw a connection between to our obligation to protect human life. There are so many people in our world who are seeking protection, a city of refuge a city of refuge.

Ma tovu….How great are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel! These words are the opening lines of a prayer that many Jews say when entering a synagogue. These words appear in this week’s Torah Portion in Number 24:5. Where Balaam is sent to curse the Israelites. But instead, Balaam is overcome the awe and awesomeness of God and the Israelites' places of worship. Rashi says that Balaam is overcome by the modesty that the Israelites maintained while traveling in the desert. So even though Balaam was sent to curse the Israelites the words that come out of his mouth are actually a blessing a blessing of praise.

In this week’s Torah portion we learn that Miriam dies She is the sibling of Aaron and Moses. A funny thing happens when Miriam dies; all of a sudden the Israelites are without water. Rabbis of our tradition have long connected Miriam with the water that the Israelites drank and without the water Israelites are in a panic and worried they are going to die of thirst. So Moses prays to God. God tells Moses to assemble the Israelites and go find a rock and order the rock to yield water. God promises Moses that water will come from the rock. But Moses does something a little differently instead he strikes the rock not once but twice out of anger. Copious amounts of water come from the rock. Then God Tells Moses he will not be allowed into the Promised Land Moses has put up with so much why did he strike the rock out of anger. I think Moses is grieving and confronting his own mortality. When people are grieving they may lose sight of their normal emotions and may not act like they normally do and they may be angry. Moses has lost his big sister Miriam, he knows he is about to lose his brother Aaron. The three of them were a team and now he is told he will not enter into the promised land and Israelites keep complaining and will not let him grieve. I’d probably strike a rock, hit a rock instead of speaking to it.

Korah's Rebellion: He was Jealous and paid the ultimate price with his life

The lesson that we learn from this week’s Torah portion is simple. If you think you can you will and if you think you can’t then you won’t. It’s all about attitude. In this week’s Torah portion, Moses chooses twelve men to go to the Promised Land to see whether it is conquerable and inhabitable. Ten of the men come back saying that it’s not possible to conquer the land because they perceive that giants live there. Two of the men, Joshua and Caleb, come back saying, “We can do it”. They are ready to fight. The ten men who lack courage saw themselves as very small, saying they are as “grasshoppers” in the eyes of the inhabitants of the land, and in their own eyes as well. They lacked the self-confidence it takes to do what is required and they lacked faith in God. And therefore condemned the rest of the Israelites to wander in the desert for 40 years. If you see failure everywhere you will fail. Think positively, believe that you can and you will and can conquer whatever comes your way.

Always be grateful and thankful for what you have and not the things you think you want. And you can never move forward in life if you are always looking at the past.

This week we enter into the book of Numbers

In this week's Torah portion, Behar - Bechukotai (Leviticus 25:1-27:34)God tells Moses to speak to the Israelites and say to them when you enter the land that I assign to you the land shall observe a sabbath. God says that the Israelites can work the land for six years but on the seventh year the land gets a Shabbat of complete rest. The Torah goes further: not only is every seventh year meant to be a shmita aka a sabbatical year but after seven-time seven years the 50th year "Jubilee," and that year too is a year of rest. During the Jubilee, all debts are canceled; slaves are released, and any land transactions which have taken place are annulled so that the land can return to its original caretakers God says you shall proclaim freedom throughout the land These are also the same words inscribed on our nation’s liberty bell and I think it’s important to remember Our country has made a lot of mistakes through the years but one thing is true we are constantly striving to live up to the ideals and values laid out by the founders of this country.

This week's Torah portion is Emor (Leviticus 21:1–24:23)and the Torah is reminding us to be kind. "And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap all the way to the edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I the LORD am your God." Remember we are created in the image of God. We are not strangers we are all related.

Let’s talk about Love This week’s torah portion Acharei Mot Kedoshim. Is about love. And it contains what we often call the holiness code. A blueprint for how we as a people living in a society should strive to behave. The opening words are: And the Lord spoke to Moses saying, speak to the people of Israel, and say to them: You shall be holy; for I the Lord your God am holy. Then God explains how people can be holy. God teaches us to Judge others fairly, to not hate our neighbors in our hearts, and to observe God’s laws. And to love. The Torah says You shall love your neighbor as yourself . We are to love each other, what a concept. We often call this the Golden rule. There is a story in the Talmud. A non Jew comes to Rabbi Hillel and says I’ll convert to Judaism if you teach me the whole Torah while standing on one foot. Hillel replied “which is hateful to you do not do to another. That is the entire Torah and the rest is commentary, now go study This week’s Torah portion insist that all people must be treated with love. If we can remember to love each other anyone can live a holy life. You shall be holy; for I the Lord your God am holy.

This week’s Torah Portion is a double portion Tazria-Metzora and it is portion we love to hate because it’s all about skin diseases, bodily emissions, and other health conditions. These physical conditions make a person temporarily unfit to be close to God. Question: What are some ways that you restore yourself when you feel sick, not whole or not close to God?

Why Keep Kosher?