Last
Tuesday, we explored Vayikra, the
first parasha in the third book of
the Torah. We discussed sacrifices and
the obligation for witnesses to give testimony.
Gesher students developed
Torah study questions including: (1) The ancient Israelites gave sacrifices to
feel closer to God. They gave sacrifices
for many reasons: Sometimes spontaneously to tell God that they love God, at
other times when they were distressed, felt guilty, thought that they had
cheated somebody, or thought that they may have sinned, or when they felt
gratitude for their well-being, or for being saved from something (illness,
accident or injury.) What do you do to feel closer to God? What is happening in
your life when you feel that you would like to feel God’s presence or to
acknowledge God? (2) According to
Jewish texts, the testimony of certain people is not acceptable in court. Who do you think should not be able to give
testimony? What do you think should disqualify a person from giving testimony?
On
Sunday, we began with The Purim Super
Hero a children’s book with important messages about the variety of
family models, peer pressure and making your own decisions. Students were clear about their expectations
that a person’s choices should not be dictated by his or her gender. We learned about the difference between gender
identity, gender expression and sex. Since all human beings are created b’tzelem elokim (in the image of God)
there is no preferred image and every image requires respect and
compassion. Hence, one’s gender and
gender identification are the choice of that individual. This led to a new perspective on the Jewish
wedding ceremony. While our tradition is
beautiful, it is also highly gendered:
The bride has a Kabablat Panim
(reception) the groom has a Tisch (groom’s
table) where her talks words of Torah, agrees to the Tanaiim (conditions of betrothal) and signs the Ketubah (marriage contract.) It is the groom who veils the bride, marries
her by reciting the traditional formula (Be consecrated unto me according to
the laws of Moses and Israel) and placing a ring on her finger, and gives her
the Ketubah. What happens if the couple is not a man and a
woman? What happens if it is two men or
two women? We also examined the Sheva Brachot (Seven Wedding Blessings)
and realized that many of them are gendered as well. We weighed the value of tradition against the
value of a gender-neutral wedding ceremony and wondered if some day, many
Jewish weddings will adopt a gender-neutral model.
“The
Garden”, a story about the first couple provided a segue from Jewish wedding to
Pirkei Avot. What does this story teach about the value of
work and even struggle? Then we learned
two short verses from Pirkei Avot: 4:16, “You’re not required to finish the work
but neither are you free to desist from it.”
And 1:10, “Shammai taught, love work.”
What is work? What is expected of
us? Students compared these texts to
Yoda’s words “Do. Or do not. There is no
try.” Does Yoda agree with the rabbis of the Mishna?
The Garden
by Rabbi Ed Feinstein, Dancing on
the Edge of the World: Jewish Stories
of Faith Inspiration and Love collected and edited by Miriyam Glazer, Ph.D.
Adam
and Eve were exiled from the Garden of Eden.
And they lived together east of Eden, tilling the earth, raising
children, struggling to stay alive.
After the years of struggle, when their children were grown, they
decided to see the world.
They
journeyed from one corner of the world to the other. Wandering from place to place, in the course
of their journeys, they discovered the entrance to the Garden of Eden, now
guarded by an angel with a flaming sword.
Frightened, they began to flee when suddenly G-d spoke to them:
“Adam and Eve, you have lived in exile these many many
years. The punishment is complete. You may return now to the Garden.”
As the words were spoken, the angel with his flaming
sword disappeared and the gate to the Garden opened. “Come in, Adam. Come in, Eve.”
“Wait,” Adam replied.
“You know, it has been so many years.
Remind me, what is it like in the Garden?”
“The Garden is paradise!” G-d responded. “In the Garden there is no work. Neither of you need ever struggle or toil
again. There is no pain, no
suffering. No death. Life goes on forever, day after day. Come, return to the Garden!”
Adam and Eve listened to G-d’s words—no work, no
struggle, no pain, no death. An endless
life of perpetual ease. And then Adam
turned and looked at Eve. He looked at
the woman with whom he had struggled to make a life, to take bread from the
earth, to raise children, to build a home.
He thought of the tragedies they had overcome and the joys they
cherished.
And Adam shook his head, “no thank you, that’s not for
me… Come on Eve, let’s go”
Adam
and Eve turned their backs on Paradise, and hand in hand, they walked home.
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