Israel — 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

Kayitz b'Yisrael: My ONLINE Summer Israel Program

I just spent 5 days taking a group of campers/students on an online experience in Israel. I partnered with Ivrit Club and an Israeli teacher was with us 30 minutes each day teaching us Hebrew. If you’d like to know more about what we did, saw, and learned - read on!

Israel, Jewish EducationAmy ArielJuly 25, 2025Israel, Summer, 5785, 2025

39 Days of the Omer. That is 5 Weeks and 4 Days.

Netzach shebe Yesod
Endurance in Foundation and Bonding
Friday evening May 31 and Saturday June 1
As I’ve walked today, I’ve finished writing my first public piece about Israel and Palestine. I’ve been working on it for months. It isn’t conclusory. My words are where I am right now as I continue to think and feel and share.
It feels right to share these words today on this day of the Omer, in Endurance in Foundation . . . and bonding.
Shabbat Shalom

Jewish Holidays, IsraelAmy ArielMay 31, 2024Netzach shebe Yesod, Yesod, Netzach, Israel, Palestine

30 Days of the Omer. That is 4 Weeks and 2 Days.

Gevurah shebe Hod
Strength/Might/Judgment in Splendor/Gratitude
Wednesday evening May 22 and Thursday May 23
Gevurah.
Strength.
Hod.
Gratitude.
I don’t know.
I do know that today I’ve been walking with and praying for Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Agam Berger, Daniella Gilboa, and Naama Levy.

It's Tisha B'Av

Saying, "It's Tisha B'Av" is a little like saying, "It's 9/11." Tisha = 9th. Av is the month we are in. It's a date. This date is the major day of communal mourning in the Jewish calendar. The. If you haven't heard of it, I get it, and it might be the biggest day you've never heard of.

Jewish HolidaysAmy ArielJuly 22, 2018Tisha B'Av, Purim, Lamentations, Eicha, Temple, IsraelComment