Pinhas (Num 25:10-30:1) is both one of my favorite and least favorite readings all in one. It starts with the death of Zimri and Cozbi, the Simeonite prince and Midianite princess that Phineas violently kills to avert G!d’s rage from the Israelites’ “whoring” after Baal Peor. I’m used the David Alter translation of the Five [...]
Mine was. I realized this after a lovely meltdown on Friday night. I often joke with my friends about my adventures as a corporate priestess. But in many ways I’m serious. I try to put all my priestessing skills to work at work. I do it to make the most of the opportunity I have [...]
While I was putting together the Rosh Chodesh Guide for Iyyar, I found myself wandering off into the world of healing herbs. The Netivot for the month is the Mayaledet (midwife) and the name of the month is said to be an acronym for Ani Adonai Rofecha, “I am G-d your Healer“ (Exodus 15:26), so [...]
Tazria-Metzora (Leviticus 12:1-15:33) This is such a challenging and strange portion. Most women recoil at the idea of being “impure” because they gave birth. The entire passage deals with what is and isn’t “tamei” and how to deal with a variety of afflictions called “tzaraat.” One of the first things I always think of when [...]
I get this question a lot and have never answered it in writing before. I wrote this essay as the afterwards for the 5th Anniversary edition of the Peeling a Pomegranate Haggadah, but I want to share it with anyone who reads this site too. There is no direct correlation between Passover and the pomegranate. [...]
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