Sermons on 3. Leviticus | Vayikra
Parashat Shemini. Marilyn Paul at Congregation Netivot Shalom on April 10, 2021. My name is Marilyn Paul. It’s good to be here. I am honored to be here at this time of awe and re-initiation. Shmini means eighth and it refers to the fact that Aaron prepared for his priestly duties for seven days and…
Parashat Vayikra. Judith Radousky at Congregation Netivot Shalom on March 20, 2021. Shabbat Shalom, This week we start the third book of the Torah with Parshat Vayikra, a Torah portion that introduces the 5 types of sacrifices to be offered in the sanctuary. Back in the Eastern European shtetl, young 4–5-year-old students, among them my…
Friends, there is just too much to share for one moment, even this moment. Yes, I say that every year, but this year I really do mean it more. So many have gathered tonight, across the world, some because they feel an irrational tribal pull, some because they fervently believe, some despite what they fervently believe. We are holy and non-conforming people in a holy and unconventional Jewish community. We are women and men, gay, bisexual, transgender and straight, republican, democrat, independent (and other), we are single, we are married, we are old, we are young, our skin comes in many shades, we struggle with mental illness and we are caregivers, we are divorced, we are single parents, we do not have children, we are Jewish and we are not. We are all this and more. And in this crowded room we are all equal, all family, and all home.
A few years ago I spoke about Domestic Violence on Yom Kippur. Afterward, two very sweet members of my shul came up to me and said: “Rabbi, you shouldn’t speak about such ugly things from the bimah. That doesn’t happen here.”