LAASOK: Sacred Texts, Modern Meaning

In a few weeks I'm launching a weekly "Torah Study for Beginners" group thru zoom. It's for people who are starting a journey of Jewish learning & want to study the weekly Torah portion. Interested? Reach out to me here or email micah@laasok.org. A project of @LaasokTexts

What does Judaism teach us about creating a just society? This year, LAASOK & our partners are dedicating an hour a month to learning about an aspect of social justice in Jewish texts. Join us! Free and open to all! Visit #justice" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">laasok.org/current-offeri… for registration & info.

Just finished studying the final mishnah of Pirke Avot with these wonderful folks through @LaasokTexts ! What an experience! 6 books, almost 150 mishnayot; a year & a half of study, discussion, & learning from each other. Mazal Tov, everyone. Now on to the next challenge!

Knowing When to Step Aside (Pinchas) In this portion, Moses faces the prospect of his own death. The Midrash paints a picture of him as a leader who struggles with own mortality AND cares deeply about the welfare of the people he leads. podbean.com/eas/pb-2gcs3-1…

In this week's Tikvah Through text, Rabbi Stacy Petersohn teaches about Esther, and how she moves toward becoming her whole self over the course of the book. Check it out on youtube below, or join us live by visiting laasok.org/tikvah/ youtu.be/_C8R0atC_H8

Check out this week's "Tikvah Through Text," in which Reb Ezra Weinberg leads a discussion about Conflict Transformation, through the lens of midrash. youtu.be/cavT1fOduh4

I'm thinking about a "community of practice" for liberal/progressive Jews thinking deeply about Shabbat. We would meet monthly to study, workshop ideas, & support each other in this area. Small group; informal; maybe a 9 month cohort. Anybody interested in this kind of format?

This week's podcast is called "Beware the Demagogue." Korach claims that "all the people are holy," but his actions seem to be less about the people and more about his own interests. In that sense, he reminds us of some politicians we know today. podbean.com/eas/pb-yyv83-1…

In this week's Tikvah Through text, Rabbi Benjamin Altshuler puts Anne Frank's famous assertion that "people are really good at heart" into conversation with traditional Jewish texts about hope. youtu.be/fI0FRUCrWRk?si… via @YouTube

The Torah's famous story of the "scouts" is a pivotal moment - the beginning of the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. But what did the scouts do wrong? We take a look at some Midrash. podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/sev…

Rabbi Alan Cook led a study session that brings together quotes from Torah, Lamentations, Bob Hope, and Stephen Stills, in an exploration of how we find hope in the past to guide us for the future. Check it out! youtu.be/WW5BhPKRQ4E

Today's study session on "Ruth as an Archetype of Hope" with Rabbi Micah Streiffer is available on youtube. Check it out! youtu.be/AAu3QhzWRb8

This week's Seven Minute Torah podcast explores how Jewish life sits at the intersection of unity and pluralism. 70 Faces of Torah (Naso) podbean.com/eas/pb-e3xkz-1…

Rabbi Micah's Pirke Avot study group begins next Thursday, July 20, and runs for 6 weeks (once a week on zoom). Who's interested to join us?!

In this week's podcast, @mstreiffer talks with Rabbi Mark Washofsky about B'midbar, the census in the desert, and about Reform Jewish halakhah. Rabbi Washofsky is the author of "Reading Reform Responsa, published by CCAR Press (@ReformRabbis) podbean.com/eas/pb-nbu4g-1…

"The Tikvah of Ruth: Ruth as a Symbol of Hope" Join Rabbi Micah Streiffer on the second day of Shavuot to study Ruth, which is traditionally read on this festival. We will look to the figure of Ruth as a symbol of resilience and hope. Open to all: #ruth" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">laasok.org/current-offeri…

Happy Pride Month!

We just posted our 40th video on Youtube! Are you following LAASOK there? Check it out for dozens of great classes with various liberal/progressive rabbis - all on demand whenever you feel like watching. @LAASOK1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">youtube.com/@LAASOK1

Rabbi Chaya Bender led a discussion about the biblical Deborah and how she teaches us to "arise" as ourselves. Check it out on youtube here: tinyurl.com/22zcta6m Or join us each week by signing up here: laasok.org/tikvah/

Rabbi Chaya Bender is the spiritual leader of Congregation B'nai Israel in Wilmington, North Carolina. In this week's Tikvah Through Text, she looks to the biblical Deborah as a model of personal resilience in hard times. youtu.be/qefkr5Oh9PA