Spin-a-Verse

This week we take a look at the binding of Isaac and two contemporary women's midrashim (commentaries that use linguistic hooks to add to the story). Both attempt to bring Sarah into the story. Leah and Rhyan talk about the pitfalls and rewards of using the form of midrash to give biblical and contemporary women an active voice within traditional texts. Textsheet can be found here

In honor of International Women's Month, we begin looking at the lives of the matriarchs, starting with Sarai/Sarah. How can we view her life? What are we missing? What challenges do we find when looking at the life of an ancient woman from a contemporary perspective?

OK yes the flood and the ark and the animals - but why a flood? And what came after? How to make sense of a story of cataclysmic destruction, regret, and human nature. Textsheet can be found here.

Rabbi Josh, Maya, Rhyan and Leah take on why the Torah starts with creation and the first woman who was...Lilith? Listen in!

We put a bow on the final episode of the podcast … for now at least! Looking back, we think about how we relate to the Torah and what we’ve each gained from encountering familiar texts and unfamiliar ones and giving our own unvarnished spin on them. Plus - Spin-a-Verse on Etsy?

In this week’s episode, Sabbatical years and slavery – can we live with the cognitive dissonance of principles of economic equity existing alongside reprehensible ideas of people as property? And we close the book of Leviticus with guests from our “Taste of Hillel” Annual Meeting, including (gasp) our parents! The textsheet can be found here.

We take on the Omer and the case of the blasphemer this week as we make our way through Emor. Our text sheet can be found here. Listener's note: this podcast was recorded prior to the Lag Ba'Omer tragedy on Mt. Meron in Israel on Thursday evening. Our prayers for healing and comfort go out to those affected and the families of those who perished.

This week we focus on the ethics of holiness in Kedoshim, including "Love your neighbor as yourself", and "do not oppress the stranger, as you yourselves were strangers in the land of Egypt", especially relevant in the current context of the guilty verdict in the Chauvin trial and continued police violence against Black people. We touch upon the Torah's view of homosexuality briefly, with more interpretations included in the source sheet, which may be found here.

Births and leprosy and emissions - oh my! Ben Levine '24 joins Rabbi Josh, Rhyan and Leah to talk about Tazria-Metzora, with a focus on the treatment of purity and impurity around menstruation and childbirth. What were the motivations of the Biblical text, and how do we feel about it today? How have women reclaimed the practices of niddah and mikvah in the 21st century? The text sheet can be found here.

We jump into some heavy stuff with the sudden death of Aaron's sons, and then try and figure out what makes an animal kosher! Textsheet is here. Picture of a daman

We take a week away from Leviticus to go back to the Red Sea in honor of this week's Torah portion. What does that story tell us? How do we feel about the warlike portrayal of God in the story? Then we check out some biblical love poetry! Textsheet can be found here.

What's the best way to say thank you? Can someone else convey gratitude for you? We take on these questions, along with more sacrifices and priestly garments this week. Source sheet can be found here.

We tackle animal sacrifices in this intro to the book of Leviticus. Why did our ancestors get so into them? How do we feel about it? And does God have something against cows? Check out the text sheet here.

This week's episode is on Vayakhel-Pekudei, and covers the making and dedication of the tabernacle. The textsheet can be found here. In honor of International Women's Day this past Monday, we focus in on the role of women in the narrative. This week's episode is dedicated in memory of Maia Offitzer, as it was her Bat Mitzvah portion. Goucher Hillel joins Maia's extended community in teaching Torah in her name.

In this week's Torah portion, we finally get to the cataclysmic moment of the golden calf and Moses' and God's reactions to it. We talk about anger and forgiveness, and how we as humans can relate to all the characters in the story. This week's special guest is Rachel Plotkin, formerly Goucher Hillel staff, now at the Center for Jewish Education. The textsheet can be found here.

This week's portion focuses on the Eternal Light (ner tamid) and the daily sacrifice. We examine the notion of animal sacrifice, and what meaning we can find in these rituals today. Today's Guest: Board Member Bruce Winters P '20. The textsheet can be found here.

In Terumah, we begin talking about the tabernacle in the desert and wonder - where did the materials come from? Why so specific? What's a cherub? And what makes space sacred anyway? To access the textsheet, click here.

Goucher students and Hillel staff offer hot takes on the weekly Torah portion. Join us this week for takes on some of the civil laws that talk about the status of women and property in Biblical society. Textsheet can be found here.