(M)oral Torah

This, to me, is the Torah: It is liberation. It is the release that comes from being seen, truly seen, in our whole, struggling, imperfect selves.

Each of us contains a Divine spark of holiness, but if our thoughts and actions aren’t directed toward holiness and channeled toward a redemptive vision, toward something larger than ourselves, then our sparks don’t connect and align.

We are responsible for one another. A society cannot call itself just while the sick are impoverished. It cannot call itself prosperous while the vulnerable are denied basic health care.

There is nothing more energizing and hopeful than walking with hundreds of others in a Pride parade and seeing the myriads of flags held high, a brilliantly hued tribute to the resilience and courage of those who continue to fight for their right to exist.

Hashem does not desire a polished or fictional version of ourselves — an image untouched by failure… The joy of confession is knowing that we deserve to be loved for who we are, not who we are able to present ourselves as.

There are ways for us to practice solidarity right now. We can listen, bear witness, and refuse to normalize cruelty.

Now is the time we need to reach into the abundant depths of justice… We can not tend to everything at once, but we can each do something.

Rabbi Doug Alpert on the promise of the jubilee year.

All of Torah is within us... The options that we can individually access may be different than our neighbor’s, but no less vital to the project of bringing justice and healing to this world.

If I am to take seriously the command to love my neighbor, I have to speak out against what is happening in Israel, in particular the treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank.