PARSHAT HASHAVUA (PORTION OF THE WEEK)

When Philadelphia P'nai Or's Shabbat-morning Torah-study group gathered to learn Torah on Shabbat Naso (June 2006), something unexpected happened:

As we studied the teachings in Numbers 6 and in the Haftarah about the consecrated role of Nazirite, we found ourselves addressing what happens when a spiritual teacher turns to sexually abusing students and staff subordinates.

The learning was at two levels – in process and in content.

Process first:

When I lead Torah-study, my usual mode is inter-experiential, in which I "weave" more than I "teach," and wisdom arises from the kahal (grass-roots community) rather than through my imposing my interpretation.

Obviously, this is oceans away from a teacher's literally jumping up and down to drive the kahal "higher," and then using the aura of his "hyper-highness" to – you might say – "jump the bones" of students.

Rabbi Arthur Waskow, 8/23/2004

SEED OF MOONLIGHT GROWING, SEED OF JUSTICE SPROUTING

When Rosh Hodesh, the new moon, falls on Shabbat, Isaiah 66 is the HAFTARAH (Prophetic passage). It may seem obvious that we read this passage because the chapter ends: "... from one new moon to another, and from one Shabbat to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, says YHWH."

But why is "all flesh" coming, and why should a universal celebration single out New Moon and Shabbat?