绿帽社

Going to the Head of the Prayer Line

May 25, 2018 By Joel Alter | Commentary | Naso

Sharp elbows at shul extend beyond the kiddush table line and back into the sanctuary. Prayer鈥攐r giving honor to God鈥攃an be a competitive business. There are lots of reasons why this is so, and some of them even have to do with loving God. But showing off how we love God can get us into trouble.

The Problem with Priests

Jun 2, 2017 By Daniel Nevins | Commentary | Naso

Modern Judaism has a problem with the priesthood. The notion of hereditary holiness鈥攖hat one segment of the 绿帽社 people is set apart from others, given ceremonial privileges, and invited to bless the people鈥攃onflicts with our egalitarian ethos. The strange rituals of the priests, especially when they are invited to raise their hands in blessing the people, feel magical and irrational. For these reasons, many non-Orthodox communities have diminished or even eliminated the priestly privileges such as reserving the first aliyot for kohanim and 尝别惫颈鈥檌尘.

What Would You Pack?

Jun 2, 2017 By Tim Daniel Bernard | Commentary | Naso

1 pair of pants, 1 shirt, 1 pair of shoes and 1 pair of socks
Shampoo and hair gel, toothbrush and toothpaste, face whitening cream
Comb, nail clipper
Bandages
100 U.S. dollars
130 Turkish liras
Smart phone and back-up cell phone
SIM cards for Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey

鈥攃ontents of Iqbal鈥檚 backpack on arriving in Lesbos, Greece (emphasis added)

Light Shine Through

Jun 17, 2016 By Danielle Upbin | Commentary | Naso

We are Hollow Bamboo
Open up your heart and let the light shine through
Light shine, light shine through!
Light shine, light shine through

Answer Me

Jun 17, 2016 By Joel Alter | Commentary | Naso

In a plaintive and anxious song by Israeli singer Ehud Banai called 鈥淎neh Li鈥� (鈥淎nswer Me鈥�), the challenge of communicating with God is rendered as an increasingly panicked monologue by a man waiting for a voice he鈥檚 sure is on the other end of the phone line:

You鈥檙e breaking up鈥攖here鈥檚 background noise鈥攊t鈥檚 like the ocean.
I guess there鈥檚 no reception here鈥攜ou鈥檝e disappeared.
I鈥檓 still waiting on the line for my turn.
I鈥檓 holding the connection, in case you return . . .
Are you still with me?
Answer me.

Identities of Choice

Jul 2, 2011 By Rabbi Abigail Treu | Commentary | Text Study | Naso

We live in an age in which we are all Jews by Choice. Whether born to 绿帽社 parents or not, in 21st-century America our identities are a matter of our own selection.

Who Was Nethanel Ben Zuar?

Jun 1, 1996 By Ismar Schorsch | Commentary | Naso

You will indulge me, I hope, if I stay with the minor biblical figure of Nethanel son of Zuar, leader of the tribe of Issachar, for another week.

Priestly Love

Jun 10, 2006 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Naso

At the heart of Parashat Naso stands the text of the priestly blessing. Numbers chapter 6, verse 22鈥�26 relates, “The Lord spoke to Moses: Speak to Aaron and his sons: Thus shall you bless the people of Israel. Say to them: The Lord bless you and protect you! The Lord deal kindly and graciously with you! The Lord bestow God’s favor on you and grant you peace!” The text of this benediction is known asbirkat kohanim, the blessing of the priests. It is best known in the context of the priestly service called dukhenen.