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

Posts in Jewish Holidays

HARVESTS OF THE HEART:  LOVING OUR NEIGHBORS AND WELCOMING THE STRANGERS

Imagine! While Miguel and I shared this d’var Torah on the bima at Mount Zion Temple in Saint Paul, back in Honduras Sindy was delivering her baby - the little pumpkin in this picture. As soon as we’d finished speaking, Miguel rushed to the lobby where he got on the phone with Viktor who shouted with joy, “It’s done!” And mama and baby were both doing great. Welcome to the world, little one! When we learn his name in the days or weeks ahead (in Honduras, many people wait to name their babies to see if they will survive.) I’ll be sure to share it here.

Jewish Holidays, TORAHAmy ArielOctober 21, 2019Love is boss, Honduras, Torah, Sukkot, Loving our neighbors, love your neighbor Comments

The Heart of Heaven

V’etchanan
Deuteronomy 3:23 - 7:11

When we form a covenantal relationship, some kind of mystery happens and even as we retain our own identities, we also form something new that only exists within that relationship. In that relationship, perhaps we reside in the leiv hashamayim– in the interior, the center, of the expanse. The heart of the heavens.

TORAH, Jewish HolidaysAmy ArielJuly 23, 2018Lev, v'etchanan, torah, tu b'av, hashamayim, wedding, wed, love, chuppah, DeuteronomyComment

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

Talking About This Revolution

PASSOVER

As we gather for our seders, we have an opportunity to bless our children - those born to us and taught by us. May we bless them for who they are, in all that they are. May we bless them in their infancy, their childhood, their adolescence, and their adulthood

Jewish Holidays, TORAHAmy ArielMarch 26, 2018March for Our Lives, Torah, Passover, chametz, Moses, Jewish Community, gun violenceComment

Purim Presents

PURIM

This year, informed by Nowruz and in observance of Purim, let’s think about how we might reach out diplomatically with the intention to increase love and friendship between ourselves and others.

TORAH, Jewish HolidaysAmy ArielFebruary 26, 2018Purim, Torah, Esther, Nowruz, Mishloach Manot Comments

We get to meet the authors of Benny Feldman’s All-Star Klezmer Band at our next BeJewcy Book Club meeting! (I’ve actually met them before and they are WONDERFUL!)

Benny Feldman’s All-Star Klezmer Band is so warm and funny it’s the best kind of cozy. This middle-grade novel by authors Allison Marks and Wayne Marks celebrates Jewish music and Jewish identity, friendship, and the messy, courageous journey of trying to figure out who you are in the world.