Just in time for Purim comes this resource offered on the Bayit Builders' Blog: Nevertheless, She Persisted: A Purim Tribute for Women's History Month. This trope mash-up of Esther and the 2/7/2017 Congressional Record (“nevertheless she persisted” silencing of U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren) commemorates Purim and Women’s History Month at a time when society especially… Continue reading Nevertheless, She Persisted: A Purim Tribute for Women’s History Month
Nu, What’s New?
What’s new? No, not the colloquial “What’s up?” but rather “What’s new in your life?” Like a Russian matryoshka doll, this question contains other questions that telescope toward a central core: “How well do I notice my life?” “How do I make new in my life?” “Can anything really be new?” “Why does any of this… Continue reading Nu, What’s New?
The Sapphire Path
Part of a yearlong series on resilience in Jewish spiritual life. Long before Frank Baum imagined Munchkins and "The Yellow Brick Road," Jews had a "Sapphire Path" that, according to Torah, Moses and 70 elders saw ascending skyward (Exodus 24:10). While mystics and rationalists might part ways about these kinds of visions, the hope of… Continue reading The Sapphire Path
Connecting to the Tree of Life
By Rabbi Rachel Barenblat and Rabbi David Markus Originally published as part of the Auburn Voices series at Auburn Seminary. Tu b’Shevat, the “New Year of the Trees,” is coming at the next full moon, the night of January 30. We honor Tu b’Shevat to renew our spirits and prepare ourselves, and the world, for spring’s… Continue reading Connecting to the Tree of Life
Take my advice
Part of a series on resilience in Jewish spiritual life. The older I get, the more willing I become to admit that I don't know it all and can't do it all. Life experience teaches all of us what the brilliant Albert Einstein recognized: "The more I learn, the more I realize how much I… Continue reading Take my advice
See Your Way to Freedom
Part of a yearlong series about resilience in Jewish spiritual life. Freedom! For many, freedom is the spiritual goal – to be free of suffering, free of burden, even free of the travails of earthly life. For many, freedom is the political goal: think FDR's Four Freedoms, Dr. Martin Luther King's "Free at last!" refrain of his "I… Continue reading See Your Way to Freedom
A New Year (As New As We Make It)
Part of a yearlong series on resilience in Jewish spiritual life. Pop the Champagne! Cue the confetti! It's a new year! Everything's new and fresh! Of course it ain't so simple – but still we hope. At new year's, we offer intentions. We turn the page (though more and more people keep calendars without paper "pages"… Continue reading A New Year (As New As We Make It)
Leave God Out Of Your Election Commentary
Roy Moore's first words after losing his U.S. Senate election in Alabama invoked Psalm 40 for God's control of the election. At the same time, my liberal friends and colleagues – who for years lamented "Bible beating" in the public square – jubilantly called Doug Jones' election victory a "Chanukkah miracle" that "proves a loving God." As… Continue reading Leave God Out Of Your Election Commentary
Matt, Mom and Me
I don't usually give titles to talks, but this week's Torah portion and what's happening in our world speak so deeply to me that they called out a title for the words I want to share with you today: "Matt, Mom and Me." "Matt" is Matt Lauer. Mom is my own mother. Me? We'll get to me later.… Continue reading Matt, Mom and Me
How Small Stuff Can Set Big Examples
A funny moment reminded me how anyone's small behaviors can affect others in big ways. A synagogue invited me and a colleague for a weekend teaching spirituality. As guests invited to explore "spiritual Judaism," we expected some to view us as what Jack Bloom called "symbolic exemplars" – people observed carefully (consciously or not) to show… Continue reading How Small Stuff Can Set Big Examples
Israel’s Six Resilience Rules
Part of a yearlong series on resilience in Jewish spiritual life. Even an over-anxious cad like the Bible's Jacob can teach a lesson about resilience. In this week's Torah portion (Vayishlach), he teaches six. It turns out that anxiety – seemingly a mainstay of modern life – can have spiritual purpose by cuing us to… Continue reading Israel’s Six Resilience Rules
Nevertheless, She Persisted
Part of a yearlong series on resilience in Jewish spiritual life. Today's shrill era in which some vocally try to silence others isn't new. The only difference is that more of us – at long last – are calling it what it is. It takes resilience to "persist" against the constant drumbeat of silencing and gaslighting, and… Continue reading Nevertheless, She Persisted
A Century Since Balfour: Israel and the Trap of Over-Simplifying
It's a momentous anniversary for Israel and world Jewry. This week marks 100 years since the Balfour Declaration (November 2, 1917) conveyed the British government's support for a Jewish homeland in Mideast territory under British control after World War I. This year also marks 70 years since the State of Israel's founding on May 14, 1948. We… Continue reading A Century Since Balfour: Israel and the Trap of Over-Simplifying
The Rush of Resilience: Loving More Than Yourself
Part of a yearlong series on resilience in spiritual life. Meet a 99-year-old gentleman who yesterday circumcised himself and today runs a fever. Age and Infirmity aside, he runs to greet surprise guests at his door, then rushes to help his wife feed them. Missing an ingredient in the kitchen, he keeps running – first… Continue reading The Rush of Resilience: Loving More Than Yourself
It’s Raining, It’s Pouring – the Resilience of Noach
Part of a year-long series about resilience in Jewish life. Picture it. The world as you know it will end. You have time to prepare yourself but must bear the derision of disbelievers. When massive change comes, you are kept physically safe amidst tumult but suffer the darkness. Then you must rebuild in a world… Continue reading It’s Raining, It’s Pouring – the Resilience of Noach
Resilience . . . Cain after Abel
Our High Holy Day theme of "resilience" was so impactful that we're dedicating this new year of Torah blogs to it. How does each weekly Torah portion reflect Judaism's enduring resilience and invite us to seek and find resilience in our own lives? Let's start from the very Beginning. From the start, nature has been… Continue reading Resilience . . . Cain after Abel
Prayer after the shooting
I loved and grieved from the day you claimed your free will, Knowing that you too would open into infinite love and grief, Knowing how your hearts would bloom with gratitude and hope With every child’s every first, and lament every child’s every last, As I do and always will with My children’s every first… Continue reading Prayer after the shooting
Exhaling After the Holidays
Like Whitney Houston’s 1995 movie hit about four friends living through different phases of love and life, many in post-Yom Kippur life are experiencing some version of Waiting to Exhale. Some exhale with relief that the High Holy Days are over. (Clergy, I’m looking at you.) Others exhale with regret that their heady High Holy Day… Continue reading Exhaling After the Holidays
Getting to Yes
Gmar chatimah tovah. May you be sealed in the Book of Life for joy, creativity, belonging and love – for the shalom (peace) and shleimut (wholeness) you need most. Fittingly for Yom Kippur, I have a confession. Judaism's "Book of Life" metaphor – "On Rosh Hashanah it is written and on Yom Kippur it is sealed" – once drove me from… Continue reading Getting to Yes
Paying up
"I beg of you: do not walk by without pausing to attend to this rather ridiculous performance – It could mean something; it could mean everything; It could mean: You must change your life." These words, adapted for today's Haftarah, are from the poem "Invitation," by Mary Oliver. She calls us to pay attention, even… Continue reading Paying up
David Evan Markus 