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Today's guest is Mihee Kim-Kort, a Presbyterian minister, speaker, writer, and as she calls herself “slinger of hopeful stories about faith and church.”Mihee has been a public figure for some time now - her writing and commentary can be found in the New York Times, TIME Magazine, BBC World Service, USA Today, Huffington Post, Christian Century, On Being, and more (see her bio for the full list). In 2021 she was named one of the “21 Faith Leaders to watch.” By the Center for American Progress. She is co-pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Annapolis, Maryland and a doctoral candidate in Religious Studies at Indiana University.In addition to all that impressiveness, Mihee is also a friend of mine, a colleague in ministry, someone who's been a part of my life for a few decades. And although we don't talk enough, when we do talk, it's rich, it's fun, and while we don't shy away from going deep, we can't resist bursting into giggles along the way.Mihee and I had this conversation… I won't say how long ago. We had both just gotten over Covid. I had to exit the conversation for 5 minutes with a coughing attack. Kids and dogs continually interrupted us. (Thank goodness for editing!) Yet somehow, in the course of this conversation, we recognize the importance of the Psalms as a companion in times of sorrow and joy, a container for what we find difficult to hold, and a template for the fullest possible expression of what it means to be human – as we process our grief and as we move into resilience.In particular, I wanted to ask Mihee about a New York Times article she wrote in the aftermath of the Atlanta spa shootings in March 2021, in which 8 people were killed, 6 of whom were Asian women. In response to that terrible event, Mihee wrote an article that asks hard questions, that's courageous and prophetic. I always wondered how she did that. It turns out that reading the Psalms was part of her story.Find out more about Mihee Kim-KortIt's been a while since I posted a longform podcast! If you haven't heard the catalog of longer podcasts on Psalms and resilience, they are worth a listen.I've been lucky enough to have incredible conversations with a number of insightful friends and wise teachers, including Barbara Brown Taylor, Pádraig Ó Tuama, Munther Isaac, and Avivah Zornberg. These conversations have enriched my understanding of the Psalms, and how they lift our spirits especially in difficult times, and how they offer healing and hope.Scroll back on the Podcast Archive to hear other long-form episodes.If you appreciated this podcast, if it made you think, if it allowed you to go deep, if it made you smile at times, if it offered you something of value, if it brought you some inspiration and consolation… consider becoming a paid subscriber. You will receive a complimentary Psalms for the Spirit Journal ebook (180 pgs) with reflection questions to accompany our 44 Psalms set to Celtic melodies. There will be further bonuses coming up in the near future.Psalms for the Spirit is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new podcasts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit psalmsforthespirit.substack.com/subscribe
A dvar Torah on parashat Chukat by Agnes Borinisky. With water, the lake, death, Miriam, Avivah Zornberg and the unconscious.
Avivah Zornberg, a contemporary Jewish biblical writer, suggests that “to flee from God is to refuse to stand between death and life; the opposite of the flight from God, she writes, “is, in a word, prayer.”I have Mass on Sunday, January 21 @ 9:30/11:30 amfrjoedailey@gmail.com
Episode 174Speaker: Father Robert Kennedy SJTopic: The Christian Experience of Enlightenment I have been greatly helped to understand the mind of Jesusby listening to Jewish teaching providing an insight into the beautifulsupernatural thinking in the mind and heart of Jesus.Father Robert quotes one of these Avivah Zornberg.
You probably know the outline of the Exodus story and its main characters: Moses, the Pharaoh, the burning bush, the plagues, the parting of the sea. And, in another realm of the power of story, the words “let my people go” and the arc of liberation from slavery have inspired people in crisis and catharsis across time and cultures. Call it “myth” if you will — as the Greek Statesman Solon said, myth is not something that never happened. It's something that happens over and over and over again. Avivah Zornberg walks us through the Exodus story that is relived in the Jewish Passover and resonates through Easter. She is a modern-day master of midrash — the ancient Jewish art of inquiry for discovering the deepest of meaning in and between the biblical lines. What can look simple on the surface, as she reveals, is a cargo of hidden stories that tell the messy, strange, redemptive truth of us as we are and life as it is. Krista and Avivah Zornberg had this lovely, intimate conversation in the early days of this show, in 2005.Avivah Zornberg is a scholar of the Torah and a modern-day master of midrash. She lives in Israel but grew up in Scotland, the daughter and granddaughter of East European rabbis. And before she taught the Bible, she taught English literature. She is the author of many books, including The Particulars of Rapture: Reflections on Exodus, The Beginning of Desire: Reflections on Genesis, Bewilderments: Reflections on the Book of Numbers, and most recently, The Hidden Order of Intimacy: Reflections on the Book of Leviticus.Find the transcript for this show at onbeing.org.This show originally aired in April, 2005.
You probably know the outline of the Exodus story and its main characters: Moses, the Pharaoh, the burning bush, the plagues, the parting of the sea. And, in another realm of the power of story, the words “let my people go” and the arc of liberation from slavery have inspired people in crisis and catharsis across time and cultures. Call it “myth” if you will — as the Greek Statesman Solon said, myth is not something that never happened. It's something that happens over and over and over again. Avivah Zornberg walks us through the Exodus story that is relived in the Jewish Passover and resonates through Easter. She is a modern-day master of midrash — the ancient Jewish art of inquiry for discovering the deepest of meaning in and between the biblical lines. What can look simple on the surface, as she reveals, is a cargo of hidden stories that tell the messy, strange, redemptive truth of us as we are and life as it is. Krista and Avivah Zornberg had this lovely, intimate conversation in the early days of this show, in 2005.Avivah Zornberg is a scholar of the Torah and a modern-day master of midrash. She lives in Israel but grew up in Scotland, the daughter and granddaughter of East European rabbis. And before she taught the Bible, she taught English literature. She is the author of many books, including The Particulars of Rapture: Reflections on Exodus, The Beginning of Desire: Reflections on Genesis, Bewilderments: Reflections on the Book of Numbers, and most recently, The Hidden Order of Intimacy: Reflections on the Book of Leviticus.This interview is edited and produced with music and other features in the On Being episode "Avivah Zornberg — Human Becoming, Between Biblical Lines." Find the transcript for that show at onbeing.org.This show originally aired in April, 2005.
Today’s daf is sponsored by Elisheva Gray in honor of Avivah Zornberg. “Mazal tov to my dear teacher and friend on the birth of your new book! Todah Rabah for continuing to illuminate the pages of Torah with your unique voice, your grace and your deep well of Jewish and worldly wisdom. Mazal tov, and may you go from strength to strength.” If one is suspected of having had a sexual relationship with a married woman, she needs to get divorced from her husband and if she marries the other man, she is forced to get divorced. According to Rav, this is case where there were witnesses and it is clear that she committed adultery. On the previous daf, Rav Sheshet questions this understanding based on a braita and the Gemara answers for Rav. Another braita is also brought to raise a doubt on Rav. Two answers are brought – either the case is referring to a different scenario or the braita is Rebbi’s opinion but Rav disagrees. Rebbi is quoted in a braita as taking suspicions seriously when one has reason to think his wife has been with another man. The halacha is like Rebbi and Rav – how can that be? It depends on whether the rumor stops immediately or continues. What is considered “immediately”? The Mishna in Gitin 45b brings two cases – a husband who divorces his wife as he suspects her of cheating on him or because of vows she made. He is not allowed to remarry her if he wishes to. Raba bar Huna questions: What if he remarries her anyway, do they have to get divorced? Can we use the case in our Mishna (where we force the second husband – the one suspected of cheating with her - to divorce her) to answer the question? Are the cases comparable? If one brings a get from overseas and says it was written and signed in front of him (a requirement for a get brought from overseas) or he testifies that her husband died or he killed her husband on his own or with others, the woman is free to marry anyone except for him, since the evidence relies solely on him and therefore there is concern he is lying out of self-interest. Rabbi Yehuda doesn’t accept his testimony at all if he says “I killed her." How can we accept his testimony at all if he says “I killed her”, according to Tana Kama – as according to Rav Yosef, if one testifies that someone sodomized him willingly, his testimony is not accepted as he is making himself into a sinner and one who sins is not an acceptable witness! So why here, is his testimony acceptable? Do we need to say that RavYosef holds like Rabbi Yehuda or can it be explained in some other way? Perhaps we can distinguish between testimony to “free” a woman from being an aguna and the case of sodomy. Why does the Mishna mention both cases of “I killed her” and “we killed her”? What is the difference? If a chacham couldn’t nullify the vow of a woman who forbade herself to her husband, therefore causing them to divorce, he cannot marry her. But if he was on a court in front of which she refused marriage to her husband (miun) or performed chalitza, he can. Can we infer from here that on can nullify a vow before one person – if so, in what situation? Is it only in front of three people that we don’t suspect him of self-interest? In another source, it seems to indicate two is enough! In all these cases, if he married her anyway, does he have to divorce her? Can it be derived from the previous Mishna and if so, from what case?
Today’s daf is sponsored by Elisheva Gray in honor of Avivah Zornberg. “Mazal tov to my dear teacher and friend on the birth of your new book! Todah Rabah for continuing to illuminate the pages of Torah with your unique voice, your grace and your deep well of Jewish and worldly wisdom. Mazal tov, and may you go from strength to strength.” If one is suspected of having had a sexual relationship with a married woman, she needs to get divorced from her husband and if she marries the other man, she is forced to get divorced. According to Rav, this is case where there were witnesses and it is clear that she committed adultery. On the previous daf, Rav Sheshet questions this understanding based on a braita and the Gemara answers for Rav. Another braita is also brought to raise a doubt on Rav. Two answers are brought – either the case is referring to a different scenario or the braita is Rebbi’s opinion but Rav disagrees. Rebbi is quoted in a braita as taking suspicions seriously when one has reason to think his wife has been with another man. The halacha is like Rebbi and Rav – how can that be? It depends on whether the rumor stops immediately or continues. What is considered “immediately”? The Mishna in Gitin 45b brings two cases – a husband who divorces his wife as he suspects her of cheating on him or because of vows she made. He is not allowed to remarry her if he wishes to. Raba bar Huna questions: What if he remarries her anyway, do they have to get divorced? Can we use the case in our Mishna (where we force the second husband – the one suspected of cheating with her - to divorce her) to answer the question? Are the cases comparable? If one brings a get from overseas and says it was written and signed in front of him (a requirement for a get brought from overseas) or he testifies that her husband died or he killed her husband on his own or with others, the woman is free to marry anyone except for him, since the evidence relies solely on him and therefore there is concern he is lying out of self-interest. Rabbi Yehuda doesn’t accept his testimony at all if he says “I killed her." How can we accept his testimony at all if he says “I killed her”, according to Tana Kama – as according to Rav Yosef, if one testifies that someone sodomized him willingly, his testimony is not accepted as he is making himself into a sinner and one who sins is not an acceptable witness! So why here, is his testimony acceptable? Do we need to say that RavYosef holds like Rabbi Yehuda or can it be explained in some other way? Perhaps we can distinguish between testimony to “free” a woman from being an aguna and the case of sodomy. Why does the Mishna mention both cases of “I killed her” and “we killed her”? What is the difference? If a chacham couldn’t nullify the vow of a woman who forbade herself to her husband, therefore causing them to divorce, he cannot marry her. But if he was on a court in front of which she refused marriage to her husband (miun) or performed chalitza, he can. Can we infer from here that on can nullify a vow before one person – if so, in what situation? Is it only in front of three people that we don’t suspect him of self-interest? In another source, it seems to indicate two is enough! In all these cases, if he married her anyway, does he have to divorce her? Can it be derived from the previous Mishna and if so, from what case?
Shmuel Rosner chats with Avivah Zornberg about her upcoming book: "The Hidden Order of Intimacy." Avivah Zornberg is a Scottish contemporary Torah scholar and author. Follow Shmuel Rosner on Twitter.
Today's guest is Dr Avivah Zornberg, renowned Torah scholar, teacher and speaker based in Jerusalem. I first became aware Dr. Zornberg's work when I heard a lecture she delivered in Belfast, and I was immediately mesmerized by her deep insights into Hebrew scripture – her studies are based on Midrash, literature, psychoanalysis and philosophy. She really brought Moses and other Biblical figures to life for me in a new way. With Passover in mind this weekend, I wanted to explore the use of Psalms in recounting the story of the Exodus, and I was absolutely delighted when Avivah agreed to speak with me not only from her scholarly background, but from her personal experience of the Psalms throughout her life. Our conversation spans from stories of her grandmother to a Jewish theology of the Psalms to prayers said at the Passover table to speaking of what's under the surface in each of our depths. http://www.celticpsalms.com/ (Celtic Psalms (Kiran Young Wimberly & the McGraths)) music can be found on https://itunes.apple.com/tt/artist/kiran-young-wimberly/654441561 (iTunes), https://open.spotify.com/artist/2GkI27HmBtB3cNIku7xRdf (Spotify), https://www.amazon.co.uk/Celtic-Psalms-Kiran-Young-Wimberly/dp/B00D0STVQI (Amazon), https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT6naf-l9ewLmFWs2ExcrPA (YouTube) Celtic Psalms songs featured in this episode: https://www.celticpsalms.com/portfolio/psalm-144-come-spirit-come/ (Come Spirit Come (Psalm 144/The King's Shilling)) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKGlCWWvvyY&list=PL_P_Y0fJ-hf3_dfwAioeVp7Qrvu1GxNxg&index=10 (God's Love Endures Forever (Psalm 136/Bold Riley)) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVyWPy2Y1ck&list=PL_P_Y0fJ-hf3_dfwAioeVp7Qrvu1GxNxg&index=8 (Banks of the Nile (Psalm 106/The Snow It Melts the Soonest)) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-z_gbsGAGc (Sing to the Lord (Psalms 98, 99 and 100/Willy Taylor) ) CDs and published notations can be found through https://www.giamusic.com/store/search?elSearchTerm=celtic+psalms (GIA music) More about Avivah Gottlieb Zornberg: See https://www.avivahzornberg.com/bio.html (https://www.avivahzornberg.com/bio.html) https://www.avivahzornberg.com/bio.html ()
Recording of Facebook Live - Reading Avivah Zornberg on Exodus - Parshat Bo
Audio of Facebook Live - Reading Avivah Zornberg on Exodus - Parshat Vaera
Torah commentator extraordinaire Avivah Zornberg, author of six books, with a Cambridge PhD and a grand rabbinical heritage, finds the human side of our greatest biblical figure. Moses's fundamental sense of himself as “not a man of words” comes to a poignant consummation in the long speeches he makes to the people before he dies. What does it mean to learn to speak?For more information about services and programs at Park Avenue Synagogue, visit our website at https://pasyn.org.
The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies Presents: The Sidney and Miriam Brettler Memorial Series 5780 Women in the Wilderness: Four Narratives of Spiritual Power with Dr. Avivah Zornberg Through midrashic and hasidic readings as well as psychoanalytic approaches we will … Read the rest Continue reading Four Narratives of Spiritual Power with Dr. Avivah Zornberg: Becoming Ruth: “And I Am a Stranger” at Elmad Online Learning.
The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies Presents: The Sidney and Miriam Brettler Memorial Series 5780 Women in the Wilderness: Four Narratives of Spiritual Power with Dr. Avivah Zornberg Through midrashic and hasidic readings as well as psychoanalytic approaches we will … Read the rest Continue reading Four Narratives of Spiritual Power with Dr. Avivah Zornberg: Esther: “Mere Anarchy is Loosed upon the World” at Elmad Online Learning.
The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies Presents: The Sidney and Miriam Brettler Memorial Series 5780 Women in the Wilderness: Four Narratives of Spiritual Power with Dr. Avivah Zornberg Through midrashic and hasidic readings as well as psychoanalytic approaches we will … Read the rest Continue reading Four Narratives of Spiritual Power with Dr. Avivah Zornberg: Daughters of Zelophchad: “To be or not to be” at Elmad Online Learning.
The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies Presents: The Sidney and Miriam Brettler Memorial Series 5780 Women in the Wilderness: Four Narratives of Spiritual Power with Dr. Avivah Zornberg Through midrashic and hasidic readings as well as psychoanalytic approaches we will … Read the rest Continue reading Four Narratives of Spiritual Power with Dr. Avivah Zornberg: Miriam against Moses: “Sing-Now!-to God!” at Elmad Online Learning.
Avivah Zornberg is a scholar of Torah and rabbinic literature, and author of several books including “The Particulars of Rapture: Reflections on Exodus.” This interview is edited and produced with music and other features in the On Being episode “Avivah Zornberg — The Transformation of Pharaoh, Moses, and God.” Find more at onbeing.org.
With a master of midrash as our guide, we walk through the Exodus story at the heart of Passover. It’s not the simple narrative you’ve watched at the movies or learned in Sunday school. Neither Moses or Pharaoh, nor the oppressed Israelites or even God, are as they seem. As Avivah Zornberg reveals, Exodus is a cargo of hidden stories — telling the messy, strange, redemptive truth of us as we are, and life as it is.
What may one of the great literary teachers of Torah and midrash — the Jewish tradition of reading between the lines of the Bible to uncover hidden layers of meaning — teach us about our own human longings? Hear what happens when she takes on Noah and the Flood, and Adam and Eve in the garden.
Avivah Zornberg is a celebrated, literary teacher of the Torah. We spoke with her on April 7, 2005, from the studios of American Public Media in St. Paul, Minnesota. She was in a private recording studio in Jerusalem. This interview is included in our show “Exodus, Cargo of Hidden Stories.” Download the produced show at onbeing.org.
The holiday of Shavuot brings with it unique forms of observance. In addition to the consumption of dairy-rich delicacies, many people participate in a tikkun layl Shavuot, an all-night study session. During a tikkun, it’s traditional to peruse and discuss a portion from the Bible, the Talmud, or the Mishneh. To mark Shavuot this year, Vox Tablet host Sara Ivry asked novelist Nathan Englander, musician Alicia Jo Rabins, Rabbi Phil Lieberman, and theologian Avivah Zornberg what text they’d most like to think about in the early-morning hours, and what... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Avivah Zornberg is a celebrated, literary teacher of the Torah. We spoke with her on April 7, 2005, from the studios of American Public Media in St. Paul, Minnesota. She was in a private recording studio in Jerusalem. This interview is included in our show “Exodus, Cargo of Hidden Stories.” The biblical Exodus story has inspired believers and non-believers, Jews and Christians — and more than a few Hollywood movies. But this is no simple story of heroes and villains; it is a complex picture of the possibilities and ironies of human passion and human freedom. If you’re not familiar with Exodus, you’re in for a deeply sensual experience; and, even if you’re well-versed in the text, you just might be surprised. See more at onbeing.org/program/exodus-cargo-hidden-stories/96
The biblical Exodus story has inspired believers and non-believers, Jews and Christians — and more than a few Hollywood movies. But this is no simple story of heroes and villains; it is a complex picture of the possibilities and ironies of human passion and human freedom. If you’re not familiar with Exodus, you’re in for a deeply sensual experience; and, even if you’re well-versed in the text, you just might be surprised.