Purim
“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there,” says Rumi. Purim is that meeting place. (Click image to read more)
ESSAY: עד דלא ידע — Until We Meet in the Field of Unknowing (Purim) Read More »
In this meditation, we explore the concept of ad delo yada, the instruction on Purim to get into a mindset of not knowing the difference between blessed Mordecai and cursed Haman. We consider what this mindset might feel like, if we let go temporarily of our pervasive habit of judging, distinguishing, separating and evaluating, and
MEDITATION: עד דלא ידע — Until We Meet in the Field of Unknowing (Purim) Read More »
Here is the key to the turn of events — the king grants permission for the Jews to defend themselves. (Click image to read more)
ESSAY: Standing Up For Ourselves (Parashat Zachor, Purim) Read More »
We, too, are given permission by the King of Kings to do the work of standing up for ourselves against internal — as well as external — attack. (Click image to read more)
MEDITATION: Standing Up For Ourselves (Parashat Zachor, Purim) Read More »
On this day when President Zelensky of Ukraine comes to ask for help for his country from the US, we are commemorating Esther’s plea to the king for mercy for her people. In preparation for that request, Esther instructs Mordecai to gather the people together. In this meditation, we work on our capacity for gathering,
MEDITATION: Gathering Together (Purim) Read More »
(Originally published in 2021, with some new additions for 2022)
How many hamantashen should one eat on Purim? (Click image to read more)
In a way, then, we could say that every single word of the Megillah becomes God’s name. (Click image to read more)
QUICK THOUGHT: God in the Megillah (Purim) Read More »
This Purim, spread the love. Be like Mordecai, who made a daily practice of checking on Esther . . . Kindness is an effective tool to combat evil and fear. (Click image to read more)
SHORT ESSAY: Spread the Love (Purim) Read More »
In this meditation, we imagine the war with Amalek with all its tenuousness and feel inside us the fear and hopelessness that come from a cruel unprovoked attack by the powerful upon the weak. We allow ourselves to feel that gnawing doubt that evil will triumph in relation to Amalek, and in relation to the
MEDITATION: Amalek, Ukraine, and Moshe’s Strong Arms of Faith (Parashat Zakhor) Read More »
Ad delo yada*“Until you don’t know” Keep celebrating until you can’t tell until they seem the same:Esther and Vashti us and them. The invitation is not to know but still to care — to send out colored bags to the hungry and the not hungry,to include them all. Maybe it’s easier to carewithout taking on the weight of judgment
POEM: Until You Don’t Know (purim) Read More »