| With Shavuot fast approaching, ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal is pleased to announce the following offerings. On Friday we have a day of learning with four (4) incredible classes taught by a great group of teachers and on Saturday we have a celebration of the end of Shabbat and Shavuot. You can learn more and register here. |
| Escorting the Queen Shechinah: Honoring Malchut shel b’Malchut with Song, Poetry and Art! Led by Rabbi Geela Rayzel Raphael Saturday, May 30 | 8 – 10 pm EDT Pay-what-you-can (Proceeds will support ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal and COVID-19 relief) Program will include havdalah. Saturday evening is a traditional time to escort Shechinah, the Sabbath Bride, back to the higher realms. Just as Kabbalat Shabbat welcomes the Divine Presence on Friday Night, so we escort Her out with royal ritual during a M’laveh Malka, a feast in Her honor. In these times we will “feast” together on the offerings of our soul that honor Shechinah through art, poetry, chant, music and more. Join Rabbi Geela Rayzel Raphael, and many other wonderful presenters illuminating the presence of Malchut shel B’Malchut as She takes leave. Kohenet Shoshana Bricklin Batya Diamond Yael Fischman Ruthie Gaiziv-Sivan Eshet Hazon Shonna Husbands-Hankin Cantorial Soloist Laura Lenes RP/Cantor Lisa Levine Orit Perlman Rabbi Geela Rayzel Raphael Brielle Paige Rassler Miki Raver Jessi Roemer Cantor Aviva Rosenbloom Sara Shendelman Peggy Smith Lori Wynters We have raised over $6000 for ALEPH and COVID-19 hunger relief in the past two events. Do a double mitzvah––escort the Queen and help the Greater Good! |
| The Bible’s First Ever Torah Study Tamar Kamionkowski, RRC Professor Friday, May 29 | 10 – 11 am EST In this session, we will study a chapter from the Book of Nehemiah that describes the world’s first Torah study. What did Torah study look like for our ancestors? Can we find common threads with some of today’s practices? |
| Jews in the Philippines: Stories and Silences Arielle Korman Friday, May 29 | 12 – 1 pm EST This class will introduce participants to the history of Jews in the Philippines and also examine excerpts of histories currently written on this topic. Many of the sources we look at will be academic, but we will read them closely and creatively in an informal setting! We will look at historical and little-discussed relationships between Jews and Pilipinx people, including Pilipinx Jews! We will also discuss the gaps in research: where is it likely encounters happened between Jews and Filipinos, and why don’t we know more about it? Participants will learn a little about this particular history and begin to grasp the depth of what we don’t know when it comes to less-discussed Jewish diasporas. |
| Living The Ten Commandments Today: Idols, Idolatry, and The Abuse of Power Rabbi Debra Smith Friday, May 29 | 2 – 3 pm EDT “Idolatry…promotes lies about power and relationships in society.” (Scott Shay, author In Good Faith) The Second Commandment states: “Do not have any other Gods…” Through text study and guided questions, we will address the implications of The Second Commandment on our lives today. We will discuss how idolatry distorts our notions about power and can lead to power abuses. We will focus on these compelling themes: *When honoring turns into idolizing *Idolatrous leaders *The role of money in our lives *Relationships with our personal power and authority figures *Power and responsibility |
| Reverence and Revelation: Invoking the Priestess Archetypes for Transformation co-facilitated by Kohenet Rae Abileah, Kohenet Keshira haLev Fife, Kohenet Liviah Baldwin, Kohenet Rakia Sky Beimel, and Rachel Kann (Kohenet student) Friday, May 29 | 3 – 4 pm EST Please join Kohanot, Hebrew Priestesses, as we offer a Shavuot ritual for grounding, inspiration and guidance. Using the Kohenet netivot (priestess archetypes) as a framework for centering and lifting up marginalized voices, we’ll do some learning, offer collective prayers, and ground ourselves through song as we observe Shavuot. |
