I was born and raised a tribal Jew, which basically means putting your “Jewish family” first. In the Jewish ghetto of Casablanca where I grew up, you didn’t hear words like “social justice” or “tikkun olam.”
In the biblical tradition of lingering in the desert en route to the Promised Land, Major League Baseball teams are packing up and embarking on their exodus from Arizona (and Florida) spring training sites to begin the new season.
Parashat Tazria (Leviticus 12:1-13:59) Many people think the description in this week’s parasha, Tazria, of how the High Priest should treat lepers — by evicting them from the camp of Israel with a ritual, and accepting them back with another once they’ve healed — is so archaic as to make studying it absurd.
An extraordinary event, perhaps transformational, occurred here in Malibu California during Purim. Before I tell you more, let me provide a personal context.
Walking away from a debate featuring the candidates for Los Angeles County supervisor last week, I was mad. Why would four smart candidates skate around the county’s terrible problems of homelessness, mental illness and an out-of-control sheriff’s department?
A recent roundtable discussion between local and Israeli educators has kindled a desire on both sides to collaborate in an effort to tackle issues of universal significance.
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