Bresheet — Words of Torah (my blog!) — Rabbi Amy Josefa Ariel (she/her)

In My Flesh and in My Bones: Bresheet 5786

While I waited with Israeli friends and loved ones for the hostages to return I read and watched the shared words and images of dozens - maybe hundreds - of Jews and Palestinians and Israelis and Gazans and settlers and Palestinian residents in the West Bank. I took it all in. I slept for a couple of hours. Then I read Bresheet, this week’s Torah portion. Twice. What you’ll find here are a first draft of my nearly sleepless thoughts and musing and questions and associations. It’s a bit of a rough ride, but hopefully an interesting one.

TORAHAmy ArielOctober 13, 2025Welcome Home, Israel, Palestinians, Palestine, Genesis, Bresheet, Torah, Torah Portion, Torah Study Comment

Pinky Swear

Eve: “Pinky swear?” I reached out toward my camera with my pinky.
God: “Pinky swear.” God smiled and reached back toward me.
We pinky swore through the screen, folding distances of all kinds.