13. SHEMOT

[Posted January 10, 2007: This word of Torah is dedicated to the memory of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, may the memory of this tzaddik ("upright person, justice-worker") continue to bless us. He was born on January 11, 1907. I had originally intended to send out this biblical / contemporary comment tomorrow, but it looks as if we will need that day to campaign against the cockamamie plan to send more American soldiers to Iraq. In this way we can ACT in Heschel's memory -- for he stood alongside Martin Luther King to oppose the Vietnam War.]

This coming Shabbat, we enter "Sefer Sh'mot," the Book of Names. We hear the names of the Israelites who entered Mitzrayyim (the Tight and Narrow Place, Egypt); the names of life-loving midwives; the name of Moses; the very name of God, Whose Name changes before our very eyes.

Rabbi Arthur Waskow, 12/28/2004

Dear Chevra,

The Torah portion for this Shabbat is named "Shemot/ Names," because it begins with the names of the sons of Jacob who had come down to Egypt centurie before, in time of famine. After this echo of Genesis, it turns to new names - of many sorts.

The first two names are those of "Yisrael - the Godwrestlers" and "Mitzrayyim" - the Hebrew word for "Tight and Narrow Place" and also for Egypt (a long narrow land strung out along the Nile, with kings who become more and more narrow-minded).

Passages from Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, 12/28/2004

HESCHEL HAFTARAH YOHRZEIT 32 FOR RABBI ABRAHAM JOSHUA HESCHEL

Rabbenu Heschel died on 18 Tevet. Especially when his yohrzeit falls in the week of Shemot (as it usually does), there are some powerful connections between his work and the Torah portion.

We urge individuals and congregations to take some time to explore these passages and especially on the Shabbat when we read the story of the midwives, to place them in the context of these women who "invented" nonviolent civil disobedience.

Rabbi Michael Graetz
Dear Chevra, Rabbi Michael Graetz teaches at Mercaz Shiluv, an Educational Center in Beer Sheva that operates in cooperation with the Masorti (Conservative) Movement in Israel. This commentary on the Torah's story about Pharaoh's

Rabbi Arthur Waskow

Shemot - The names and the book
By Rabbi Arthur Waskow
Though "Shemot" or "Shmos", the Book of Names, does begin with a list of names from which all the women have been excluded, it moves onward

Rabbi Phyllis Berman and her smikha sisters, 12/27/2004

SMICHA WEAVE AND PHYLLIS DVAR TORAH

(BEGINNING WEAVE)

Breishit : In the beginning of the process of creating four women rabbis and a rabbinic pastor there were five women living in three co

Rabbi Arthur Waskow & Rabbi Phyllis Berman

When Moses Burned Inside the Burning Bush

Moses chased after the dancing lamb just as it disappeared around the mountainside; tripped, cut his knee, los