by RabbiOlivier | Nov 20, 2016 | Adult Learning, Greater Community, Interfatith, Israel, Torah Reflections
How do we heal our world? How do we move past what divides us to create, together, a tomorrow that will be richer because of the pain of yesterday? How do we stand strong for what we believe in without demonizing those others who stand strong for what they believe in?...
by RabbiOlivier | Nov 18, 2016 | Adult Learning, Interfatith, Israel, Torah Reflections
Is it possible? After spending time in Tel Aviv this morning both at the Independence Hall where David Ben Gurion declared the State of Israel’s existence, and walking through the artists’ market of Nachalat Binyamin and the Carmel Suk; we drove north to the Galilee...
by RabbiOlivier | Nov 17, 2016 | Adult Learning, General, Greater Community, Interfatith, Israel, Torah Reflections
Tel Aviv, Israel; November 17, 2016 What a miracle! I am re-reading these first few words—the date and the place where I am writing from—and I am moved by a sense of awe. Don’t get me wrong, my zealous Zionist years are far behind me. As an Israeli citizen, I have...
by katie@betalef.org | Apr 1, 2016 | Torah Reflections
Sh’mini Leviticus 9:1 – 11:47 Joy And The Possibility of Forgiveness The inaugural ceremony of the Tabernacle’s dedication and the ordination of Aaron and his sons to the priesthood which began with last week’s Torah portion, concludes this week. “BaYom...
by RabbiOlivier | Mar 25, 2016 | Torah Reflections
Tsav Leviticus 6:1 – 8:36 The Light of Our Heart In my approach to Torah, I see the text as myth, not reality. I presuppose that, as such, the stories it conveys speak of universal archetypes relating to the human spiritual journey, and seek to unpack the...