*CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS* Honey from the Rock: A Pandemic-Era Rabbinic Anthology

 *CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS* 

Honey from the Rock: A Pandemic-Era Rabbinic Anthology

Edited by Rabbi Menachem Creditor

 

For the past 2 years, the COVID-19 pandemic has redefined life itself in every corner of the world. No one could have imagined the immensity of our losses, nor could anyone have foreseen the new possibilities that have emerged as a result of communal and individual relocation. Rabbis have joined the armies of angels responding to all of this, channeling the best of Jewish tradition to support their communities and make meaning of the world we share. New technologies have extended the reach of religious leaders far beyond the physical boundaries of community that once felt more defined, and their soulful offerings have helped countless others feel less alone. Honey from the Rock will be an anthology of reflective writings from within the rabbinic community, representing a true diversity of voices, grounded and vulnerable, inspiring and honest, published in order to amplify the meaning and comfort rabbis have offered during a very difficult moment in human history.

 

Submissions to torahwithin@gmail.com must be in WORD format and received no later than December 31, 2021.

What an honor it's been to lead the Wednesday MyJewishLearning.com #Kaddish #Minyan these last 2 years. So grateful to MJL and Ben Harris for building/providing this powerful platform for global Jewish learning, praying, & sharing. We are healthier and happier and stronger because of you.

 

9 years ago, today. Sandy Hook. We remember. We commit to the work to End Gun Violence.

We must learn from the pain and experience of the past. As Joseph said, "It's not supposed to be like this." And, as Jacob responded, "I know my son, I know." #LoCheinAvi #YadatiBniYadati #MorningTorah #Broadcast439

 

Today's Morning Torah is dedicated to the memory of Gavri Benson, z"l. May the light of this last day of Channukah be mirrored in our eyes and through our deeds as we offer comfort and blessing to the world.

 

Morning Torah, dedicated for a refuah shleimah, a full healing, for Chayim Gavriel ben Misha Kayla. #miketz #channukah #shinealight

 

How Much Light? A Channukah Meditation

How Much Light? 

A Channukah Meditation

© Rabbi Menachem Creditor

"תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: מִצְוַת חֲנוּכָּה, נֵר אִישׁ וּבֵיתוֹ. וְהַמְהַדְּרִין, נֵר לְכׇל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד. וְהַמְהַדְּרִין מִן הַמְהַדְּרִין, בֵּית שַׁמַּאי אוֹמְרִים: יוֹם רִאשׁוֹן מַדְלִיק שְׁמֹנָה, מִכָּאן וְאֵילָךְ פּוֹחֵת וְהוֹלֵךְ. וּבֵית הִלֵּל אוֹמְרִים: יוֹם רִאשׁוֹן מַדְלִיק אַחַת, מִכָּאן וְאֵילָךְ מוֹסִיף וְהוֹלֵךְ. …"

"The Sages taught: The basic mitzvah of Channukah is each day to have one light kindled per household. And the "mehadrin" (beautifiers of tradition) kindle a light for each and every one in the household. And the "mehadrin min hamehadrin" (extreme beautifiers) adjust the number of lights daily. Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel disagree as to the nature of that adjustment: Beit Shammai begins with eight lights and decreases each night. Beit Hillel begins with one light and adds one each night…" (TB Shabbat 21b) Perhaps we aren't so different from our early teachers as we might have thought, neither in the questions we ask nor in the responses we generate. How much light is sufficient? One light that can pierce the darkness. But the world deserves more than the minimum. Every person contains light within themselves, and sharing it is beautiful. But really, it's even better than that. Some of us feel inner illumination from the start, and some build our way into that inner light. Some of us feel just a small inner space where the light lives and release more and more of it each day. Because we all do our work in the world, there's abundance in the beginning and there's abundance in the end. You are bathed in light. We are enough for this world. There is beauty ahead. ___ art: A Candle Light, Jonathan Manning fineartamerica.com/featured/a-candle-light-jonathan-manning.html