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“One shallow babe,” is how we might describe our god in this parsha (were we not so respectful). She lays out the rules for the kohenim, or priests, of Her temple — rules which have no spiritual or moral requirements whatsoever. YHWH’s priests just need to be high gloss. Having established that, She takes Her [...]

As a recovering English major, it’s unusual that I admit to enjoying anything having to do with numbers… but I love counting the omer. As a child I knew nothing about the omer; it wasn’t until I was going to Makom Hebrew High School as a teenager that I learned about the obligation to count [...]

“Bring out the priests!” Hashem has established herself in her new earthly home. She’s placed her meal orders and now explains when and how her food will be acquired, which involves a bit of humiliation from Moses brother, the High Priest. She seems to simultanoously elevate and insult Aaron and his sons. But at least [...]

This week’s parsha is a double portion that finishes the book of Exodus (Shemot.) Most of it tells the story Bezalel and Oholiab, the two Hebrews in charge of building the tabernacle (Mishkan.) We read of all the ritual objects created for the Mishkan and of the structure itself, which was the early model for [...]

Quick drop until I get some folks to write more, but earlier today I was informed by Hagay Hacohen, head of the Adam Student Cell in Bar Ilan University Israel, about the reaction of the Islamic Party in Israel to ASWAT’s upcoming conference in Haifa. A conference of Palestinian lesbians, scheduled to be held in [...]

This week both YHWH and Versace are thinking priestly fashion. Moses and YHWH are still huddled within the cloud-topped Mount Sinai. Having spent last week laying out in precise detail, the structure She wants built, now She is waxing very specific about the attire of the cult priests who will supervise the bloody sacrifices She [...]

Parashat Terumah The Gift of Safe Space by Y. Gavriel A. Levi Ansara on Saturday February 24, 2007 6 Adar 5767 Exodus 25:1 – 27:19,Shabbat Parashat Terumah opens with G-d speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai and commanding him in meticulous detail regarding the construction of the Mishkan, or “tabernacle,â€? the portable dwelling place of [...]

This week we publish from KOACH Kallah 2007 at the University of Pennsylvania. We’ll be talking to the young college Jews about our favorite biblical comic. In this week’s parsha, Moses is alone with YHWH in Her private, mountaintop abode. Does our god reveal to her favorite human the meaning of life? Does she allow [...]

Introduction In this brief essay, I’d like to read and think through three verses of Genesis, in order to start to establish a foundation for transgender Jewish thought. In particular, to consider hierarchy and binary opposition in the Biblical pattern of creation. (Heaven opposed and superior to Earth; Sun to Moon; Adam to Eve, etc.) [...]