Judaism for the Thinking Person
Religion & Spirituality:Judaism
The beginning of Leviticus spells out a fourfold process of bringing order to society and keeping at bay the threat that chaos can invade and tear our system to shreds. The fourfold process involves the expiation of sin, a process that adds two middle steps of relationship to God and to oneself that is often missing from our typical American formulation. I am used to the model that skips the whole notion of sin: rather, society works because if you break the rules you get punished, and that fear of being caught --along with a system of punishment-- brings Order. The two middle notions that the Levitical process adds in between action and punishment is "consciousness that one erred unwittingly" and "realizing that one's erring has consequences on the anonymous others within the System." That allows one to "take in new information" and then GROW. Those are the middle steps of relation with God. It's only, as Leviticus chapter 5 explains, when you take in new information but you are so attached to your own ego that you don't witness to it, that you arrive at the step of punishment. (For example, if you receive information that you previously underestimated the virus or need for types of precautions or measures, do you admit the consequences of your unwitting sin prior and then witness to this new information, or choose your ego over God?] It is the Levitical explanation of unwitting sin and then expiation through growth and acknowledgement of consquences on others that our political leaders are avoiding today. Instead, our Nasi's (President, some governors and congresspeople) are attached to their own sense of perfection, they deny God, refuse to grow, and refuse to witness to new information, fostering chaos over order. What plagues do practically and theologically is to explose the weaknesses in the System, and allow chaos in. Our Nasi is inviting it, just as the Pharoah narrative describes and the Levitical sacrificial system explains.
The Biblical Battle of the AI Priesthood Lineage
Amalekites, Gaza and the End of Megillat Esther on Purim
The 19th Century Reform Rabbi Who Changed Physics
The Israelites Left Egypt Armed: Gender & Chauvinism Preceding October 7
Who Gets to Be a Spokesperson for Israel? The Soft of Heart and Slow of Speech
Tikkun Olam and Redeeming the Hostages
Halakhah and Aggadah: The Ten Stories We Tell PART TWO
Halakhah and Aggadah: The Ten Stories We Tell PART ONE
Is There a Fear of God In This Place? Our Different Experiences of the Israel Gaza Conflict
The Commandment of Shevut: How Do We Handle its Inherent Subjectivity?
The Kol Nidrei Ritual: Stepping into Your Future Self
Hineni Resolutions: I’m Ready but Are They?
The Genders Within God, and Within Ourselves!
The Three Covenants: God Cares About God’s Brand. Do You?
Is the Book of Numbers about Remote Work?
Be Someone Else: Victor Turner and the Subversiveness of Ritual Performance
”Make Yourself a Wilderness” To Receive Torah
Jubilee and the Passing on of Generational Wealth
Two Forms of Action: Embodying the Kabbalistic Forces of Netzach and Hod
Torah In a Minute: What’s the Big Deal About the Lunar Calendar?
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Hello Heaven Podcast
Rav Gershon Ribner
The Nightingale of Iran
For Heaven’s Sake
Wondering Jews with Mijal and Noam
Sivan Says: Taking the Torah Personally