Religious innovation can involve a kind of backwards adaptation, where lost rituals are retrieved and re-framed for modern times. It can also involve tossing aside interpretations that aren’t relevant any more. The latter is the case for some parts of Jewish law. Specifically, several passages in the Bible have long been interpreted as banning homosexuality, But more recently, leaders in the progressive Jewish community have been working to update Jewish tradition and create a more welcoming home for LGBTQ Jews. Rabbi Debra Kolodny is one of the leading advocates in the Jewish LGBTQ… [Read More…]
Lessons on forgiveness by way of mixing faiths
Oct. 14, 2014-The Jewish holiday of Sukkok is typically billed as a harvest holiday, but it’s also the joyous culmination of a weeks long period of reflection. However, accessing the joy can require contemplation of some serious questions. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are the holidays that fall just before Sukkot. They encourage followers to take stock of their lives and relationships, and to ask questions such as: Where have I gone wrong? To whom should I say, “I’m sorry?” How can I transform? A recent daylong meditation retreat in Berkeley, Calif. aimed… [Read More…]
Music: Ma Tovu
Bay Area Jews quench thirst in the desert: This song was recorded while reporting for the story about Wilderness Torah, a Berkeley-based organization that is bringing Judaism’s ancient teachings to life. Much of the festival’s music encouraged participation. Though in Hebrew, the words were simple enough that people could catch on quickly. Recorded by Judy Silber in the Panamint Valley, April 2014.
Music: Shalom Aleichem
Bay Area Jews quench thirst in the desert. Music could be heard nonstop at Berkeley-based Wilderness Torah’s Passover festival in the Panamint Valley desert. This song was recorded in the morning. The heat of the day hadn’t yet set in. The sun was rising over the mountains. Maybe you can feel that? It is written and sung by Mikey Pauker. More of his music can be found at http://mikeypauker.com/ Recorded by Judy Silber in the Panamint Valley, April 2014.
Listen: Bay Area Jews quench spiritual thirst in the desert
July 22, 2014-Late last year, a study from the Pew Research Center captured an identity crisis among American Jews. It found more people who, though born Jewish, are not identified with the religion. What the Pew report didn’t capture is a reverse trend- people who are turning back toward their religious roots. Innovative organizations are popping up all around the country: Jewish afterschool programs, Jewish farms, Jewish LGBTQ and environmental groups, all building bridges between ancient and contemporary cultures. KALW’s Judy Silber was intrigued by the idea of exploring her own Jewish heritage… [Read More…]
