tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-272833682024-03-26T01:44:42.621-07:00Passover Village<i>You'll know why this Seder is different from all other Seders!</i><br><br>
9:00 AM Thursday, April 21 until Noon Sunday, April 24, 2022<br>
Pesach in the Desert: Nature, Renewal, Spirituality, Campfires<br><br>
Let all who are hungry come and eat.
תן את כל מי רעב יבוא ויאכל<br>
We begin in the name of God, who is Compassion and Mercy. نبدأ باسم الله، الذي هو الرحمة والرحمةMarc Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15048875649745344457noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27283368.post-12785494949661481432021-10-23T09:41:00.001-07:002021-10-23T09:41:22.210-07:00It would have been enough<p>Dan Brumer, a co-founder of Passover Village, offers this reflection:</p><p style="text-align: center;"> <b style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 48pt;">Dayenu</span></b><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">If we had gathered once in Joshua Tree<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 4pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 4pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">If we had created ritual and sacred space<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 4pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 4pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">If we had welcomed diversity with openness<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 4pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 4pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">If we had invited and embraced all the children<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 4pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 4pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">If we had sought to realize our indigenous heritage<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 4pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 4pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">If we had encouraged expressiveness and creativity<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 4pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 4pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">If we had studied the twelve tribes and honored them with flags</span><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 4pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 4pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 4pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">If we had examined our white privilege and colonialism with humility <o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 4pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 4pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">If we had recreated the tabernacle and built the holy of holies </span><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 4pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 4pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 4pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">If had smudged with frankincense—but wait, there’s myrrh!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 4pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 4pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">If we had incorporated Council into our community</span><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 4pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 4pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 4pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">If we sat in wonder among all our fellow beings<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"> under the stars, comets, and fire rainbows</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Papyrus, sans-serif; font-size: 26pt;">It would have been enough<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">From http://passovervillage.blogspot.com/.</div>Michael@Chusid.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539490607555267490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27283368.post-90659511551792990902021-10-23T09:35:00.004-07:002021-10-23T09:35:34.092-07:00Returning to the Land<p>After two years of virtual seders, the Passover Village community will return to Joshua Tree National Park for our seder in 2022. </p><p>Additional information will be posted early in 2022.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">From http://passovervillage.blogspot.com/.</div>Michael@Chusid.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539490607555267490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27283368.post-32168121428344644382020-12-24T13:14:00.000-08:002020-12-24T13:14:12.641-08:00During Time of Covid<p>The Passover Village Community has continued to meet online. In the early months of the pandemic, we meet weekly via teleconference to provide support to each other. Our meetings have gradually returned to monthly online gatherings to study Torah and be in Council.</p><p>We have also gathered for holiday observances; most recently for hanukah. Each household shared the light of its menorah to dispel the darkness and unite us.</p><p>We have also gathered online to hold shiva for a dear member of the Village. This week, we also conducted a virtual taharah (purification) ritual for the father of community members. The father's death from Covid made it unsafe for us to gather in person for taharah, so we drew upon our traditions to symbolically bath and dress the body for burial. This is what community does for its members.<br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">From http://passovervillage.blogspot.com/.</div>Michael@Chusid.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539490607555267490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27283368.post-63916499035524505082020-04-24T17:42:00.003-07:002020-04-28T19:57:25.801-07:00Wisdom from the CouncilThe Village had been looking forward to a post-Passover retreat into the desert. When it was canceled due to quarantine concerns, many of us gathered via the internet for a day of council, meditation, and prayer.<br />
<br />
In the afternoon, each of us went into nature to ask for guidance on what was required of us at this time. Here are some of the things we learned.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Wisdom from the Council</b><br />
<br />
Breathe with me, and you will have air, Eat with me and you will have food, Live with me and you will have life. <br />
<br />
Discover stinging nettles and how we can be with them.<br />
<br />
This is the time to rest and shore up your strength for when it’s time to act.<br />
<br />
You will need your will to transform inspiration into action; don’t move too fast <br />
<br />
Nothing to do besides being me, fully, all of me <br />
<br />
Hear me, see me, feel me, touch me <br />
<br />
Playfulness, childlike innocence, humility <br />
<br />
Tune into what is all around us <br />
<br />
Work with the seeds <br />
<br />
Felt connected to the water; I live in a community <br />
<br />
Be kind to ourselves; From the spirits: we love you, always have, always will <br />
<br />
I am humbled<br />
<br />
Use and activate your out-of-the-box gene <br />
<br />
We affect everything and everything affects us <br />
<br />
We are all connected <br />
<br />
Rest <br />
<br />
Give and receive love <br />
<br />
Get clear on your commitments, be grateful, and be still to receive the heart’s heartbeat <br />
<br />
Be the container for new life.</blockquote>
<span style="font-size: small;">Ken yehi ratzon </span><br />
<h2 class="trackTitle" itemprop="name">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">כן יהי רצון </span></span></h2>
<h2 class="trackTitle" itemprop="name">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Let it be so.</span></span></h2>
<br />
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Wingdings;
panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:2;
mso-generic-font-family:decorative;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 268435456 0 0 -2147483647 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Lucida Bright";
panose-1:2 4 6 2 5 5 5 2 3 4;
mso-font-charset:77;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-language:AR-SA;}
p.MsoListParagraph, li.MsoListParagraph, div.MsoListParagraph
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Cambria",serif;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-language:AR-SA;}
p.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Cambria",serif;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-language:AR-SA;}
p.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Cambria",serif;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-language:AR-SA;}
p.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Cambria",serif;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-language:AR-SA;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-size:11.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-bidi-language:AR-SA;}
.MsoPapDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-bottom:8.0pt;
line-height:107%;}size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Wingdings;
mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;}
ol
{margin-bottom:0in;}
ul
{margin-bottom:0in;}</style><div class="blogger-post-footer">From http://passovervillage.blogspot.com/.</div>Michael@Chusid.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539490607555267490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27283368.post-32054149999061711852020-04-12T14:24:00.002-07:002020-04-12T15:07:15.174-07:00In the Covid-19 DesertThe Hagadah came alive in unexpected ways as the Village's seder was moved online. Drawing upon the traditions and relationships forged in the Village over the decades, we gathered online to celebrate together and inquire how our heritage can help us navigate the current time and create a vision for "Next Year in ......." <br />
<br />
Here is one vision we all agreed upon:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTVYHogv8_EL11qyq4MmcND4JoEJdrYKg8wXcDUIk7QTEdAjN3Coxbw5cWKT-awy1E8UTLhGZeJ1tY-qGh2FyG7l7XQYx2_xXFFK5hcGtpmhyphenhyphenFuhW8k05hPS95BIkmKlKZbbWJQ/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="535" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTVYHogv8_EL11qyq4MmcND4JoEJdrYKg8wXcDUIk7QTEdAjN3Coxbw5cWKT-awy1E8UTLhGZeJ1tY-qGh2FyG7l7XQYx2_xXFFK5hcGtpmhyphenhyphenFuhW8k05hPS95BIkmKlKZbbWJQ/s640/unnamed.jpg" width="600" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Image from OneTable.org, Artwork by Rebekah Lowin [@madebyrebekah_]</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">https://issuu.com/onetableshabbat/docs/onetablexpassover_2020_guide?fr=sODU1YjEwNzgzMzQ</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">From http://passovervillage.blogspot.com/.</div>Michael@Chusid.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539490607555267490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27283368.post-38924157288581202932019-12-31T12:35:00.001-08:002019-12-31T12:38:17.533-08:00Update on 2020 Passover Village<b>Dates: </b>Our tradition is to gather on the weekend after the 1st and 2nd seders to allow us to participate in home and synagogue-based seders on those nights. But this year, the 1st and 2nd nights are on Wednesday and Thursday nights, so to gather in the wilderness on the next day would be an difficult. Instead, we will begin the Village at 9:00 AM on Friday, April 17 and conclude at Noon on Sunday, April 19. These dates are after the official close of Passover, allowing us to experience the Village from a different perspective.<br />
<br />
<b>Location:</b> We will gather in the San Bernardino Mountains this year.<br />
<br />
Watch For More Information and Registration.<br />
<br />
<div class="blogger-post-footer">From http://passovervillage.blogspot.com/.</div>Michael@Chusid.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539490607555267490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27283368.post-21486914297028288842019-08-12T11:10:00.002-07:002019-08-12T11:10:18.874-07:00Passover Village Demands: "Close the Camps"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyPseN-a-PGuPMGSV13MD6S7Lmym8G5rVBU0cBcPgzY348Mzd0-NpOh0eE8pFmbkv9hafAA6If5uyi5lydnozzdghiyRoofEGCRNNkT9HqPCjls-QXCd6UpO3CeZz0piMW-WlFig/s1600/unnamed.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="957" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyPseN-a-PGuPMGSV13MD6S7Lmym8G5rVBU0cBcPgzY348Mzd0-NpOh0eE8pFmbkv9hafAA6If5uyi5lydnozzdghiyRoofEGCRNNkT9HqPCjls-QXCd6UpO3CeZz0piMW-WlFig/s640/unnamed.png" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
The sages asked, "Which is greater, Torah study or action?" Their conclusion, "Study is greater, for it
leads to action."<br />
<br />
Passover Village has been studying our relationship to "the other", to the environment, and to justice. Last week, we put the study into action, participating as a group in the "Close the Camps" rally in Los Angeles, demanding that refugees be treated with respect and justice.<br />
<br />
Our participation was full of heart. We sang, prayed, and held council. Our
colorful flags of the four directions, <i>tallitot</i>, and <i>shofarot</i> raised the<i> ruach</i>, spirit of the
event.<br />
<br />
The sages also said, “You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it.” Our pursuit of justice will continue. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="en">
<div class="sourceContentText">
</div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">From http://passovervillage.blogspot.com/.</div>Michael@Chusid.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539490607555267490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27283368.post-68985539827160240572019-05-10T14:13:00.004-07:002019-05-10T14:14:15.925-07:00In such a sky, you can see past, present, and future.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOT70nCjpY30WxATUNyndsWkdQLQM04ij5Lc5r4ige9qbWORpYZ3vA8ABQ15UTi6BAZQP25tusFPvlWlZsErWkvuxLBbvuLleLZ0jLSxXtFc2wkFvYmSnLJNMBUGe3Oal1mgbTw/s1600/JoshuaTreeSky2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOT70nCjpY30WxATUNyndsWkdQLQM04ij5Lc5r4ige9qbWORpYZ3vA8ABQ15UTi6BAZQP25tusFPvlWlZsErWkvuxLBbvuLleLZ0jLSxXtFc2wkFvYmSnLJNMBUGe3Oal1mgbTw/s1600/JoshuaTreeSky2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Joshua Tree emcampment.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">From http://passovervillage.blogspot.com/.</div>Michael@Chusid.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539490607555267490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27283368.post-72261109624535028252019-04-29T11:26:00.001-07:002019-04-30T19:37:21.922-07:00<div style="font-family: Garamond, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">
Dear Passover Villagers 2019</div>
<div style="font-family: Garamond, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Garamond, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">
Thank you for attending the retreat this year. We trust your travels back from the Village were uneventful and safe.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Zl1LkKnRLY8X1JgSbjK1u2BUx3gVtR6QPErduSSgqRqBduqQqBPpBqfNMH-Gm6dOolix6tElH0EU7y5-iqaQdcEKSZFpW88oW0aVYXvEtaRb5SfWKsS6Qf9PXMrv6RICDP6NKA/s1600/Shofar_2019x.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="1024" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Zl1LkKnRLY8X1JgSbjK1u2BUx3gVtR6QPErduSSgqRqBduqQqBPpBqfNMH-Gm6dOolix6tElH0EU7y5-iqaQdcEKSZFpW88oW0aVYXvEtaRb5SfWKsS6Qf9PXMrv6RICDP6NKA/s640/Shofar_2019x.png" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Garamond, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">
Please let us know about:</div>
<div style="font-family: Garamond, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Garamond, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">
What worked for you and your family</div>
<div style="font-family: Garamond, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">
What did not work for you and your family</div>
<div style="font-family: Garamond, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">
Three memorable moments from your experience</div>
<div style="font-family: Garamond, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">
Suggestions or requests for next time (Kavannah, activities, location, etc.)</div>
<div style="font-family: Garamond, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Garamond, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">
Thanks again,</div>
<div style="font-family: Garamond, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Garamond, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">
Dan</div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><div class="blogger-post-footer">From http://passovervillage.blogspot.com/.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27283368.post-75805170272323248672019-02-24T21:21:00.002-08:002019-03-08T22:37:35.897-08:00Registration for Passover Village 2019 is now OPEN!<b>Registration for Passover Village 2019 is now OPEN!</b><br />
<br />
This page has information for registration but not everything else. Please also visit: <a href="http://passovervillage.blogspot.com/">http://passovervillage.blogspot.com</a> for other Passover Village info.<br />
<br />
LOCATION<br />
This year we will be returning to iconic and enigmatic Joshua Tree National Park. We will gather in community, embraced by a magnificent amphitheater of boulders rising 100 feet above our two group camp sites. Exact location and directions will be provided with registration confirmation. Please don't plan to "just drop by."<br />
<br />
DATES<br />
9 AM Friday April 26, 2019 through Noon Sunday April 28, 2019<br />
<br />
Come Early: Allow 2 to 3 hours minimum travel time by car from Los Angeles; arrival before dark will simplify campsite setup. Camp is available to us as early as 3:00 pm Wednesday, April 24th. Otherwise, plan to arrive by 8:00 am Friday at the latest to set-up your personal camp and join the opening circle at 9:00 am.<br />
<br />
REGISTRATION INFORMATION: <br />
<br />
Send the following by email (required):<br />
1. Requested contribution is $90/adult or child 13-and-over; children 12-and-under free!<br />
2. The name, phone number, and email address of each adult being registered.<br />
3. The name and ages of any children aged 17-and-under, and the name of the adult registrant who will be responsible for each child.<br />
4. The number and description of vehicles.<br />
5. The day, date and time you plan to arrive.<br />
6. Contribution to Scholarship Fund (optional)<br />
<br />
* We ask that payment be made via PayPal <a href="https://www.paypal.com/us/home">https://www.paypal.com/us/home</a> <br />
There is no charge for a PayPal account. You can use your bank account for free or a credit card for only a $.33 fee (less than a stamp!) and send your contribution to the PayPal account passovervillage@gmail.com.<br />
<br />
<i>If you must, send a check payable to:</i><br />
Larry Richard (m: 310-560-6004)<br />
2118 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 594<br />
Santa Monica, CA 90403<br />
<br />
* Payment must be received by April 1, 2019 to confirm your space.<br />
<br />
* Includes all camping fees and delicious, catered Seder meal. <b> TBD</b><br />
<br />
* Genuine financial hardship should not keep you from attending. Please let us know how you can contribute.<br />
<br />
* Volunteers Needed: (1) help loading gear in Culver City on TBD, (2) transporting to and from camp, (3) unloading gear on Sunday afternoon, April 28th<br />
<br />
PASSOVER VILLAGE AGREEMENTS: <br />
We agree to respect and care for ourselves, each other, the community and the land. To safeguard the freedom and sanctity of time and space in the Passover Village, the Leadership Council has endeavored to balance the needs of individuals with those of the community. To that end, the following updates are effective with Passover Village 2013. <br />
<br />
By registering for this retreat, attendees also agree to the following: <br />
<br />
<i>Photography and Recordings:</i> <br />
-- When we are gathered In Community with a common focus, or "In Session," put away cameras and recording devices. <br />
-- When we are not gathered as a focused community, having lunch, talking with others, etc., photos and recording are allowed within bounds of respect, privacy and permission: Be discrete, non-intrusive, and respectful of all participants when taking any photographs or recording; some may prefer not to be photographed or recorded at all. <br />
-- Do not publish photos or recordings in public media <br />
-- If unsure about a photo or recording, do not take or publish it. <br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Personal Displays and Self Promotion:</i> In the spirit of a retreat, so that we might leave behind the things of the day to day world, please do not bring personal displays or promotional items into community areas. <br />
<br />
CARPOOLING: This is strongly encouraged and a great way to start the Village before you arrive. Parking onsite is very limited. Let us know if you need or can offer a ride. <br />
<br />
<br />
SHARING THE BURDEN, LIGHTENING THE LOAD<br />
If you find you will be traveling alone, please consider offering to partner with another Passover Villager to share driving, camp set-up and meals. If you are strong, please share. If you are not so strong, please ask for help. <br />
<br />
ACCESSIBILITY: The campground is accessible via road. The outhouses meet ADA requirements for accessibility, but most of the campsite is sandy or loose soil, making wheelchair mobility difficult. But as during our exodus from Egypt, when the infirm and disabled were carried, we will accommodate special needs.<br />
<br />
PARKING<br />
Parking is limited in the group site parking lot. <br />
<br />
Overflow parking is available a short drive away and shuttle rides back to camp can be arranged as needed.<br />
<br />
RV parking is restricted by size (25’ max) as well as total number of all vehicles.<br />
<br />
CAMPSITE DETAILS<br />
* We do not have running water however community water supply and personal water containers can be filled for free at the ranger station about one mile away<br />
<br />
* Multiple picnic tables and a community barbecue pit <br />
<br />
* Two pit toilets in weather-protected brick building<br />
<br />
* There are sites for individual tents scattered throughout the group site.<br />
<br />
* This is a family-friendly site, however it is in the National Park and precautions are advised against the elements. Beware of snakes, cacti, falls, and around prickly shrubs.<br />
<br />
* This site is a 2-3 hour drive from the Los Angeles area. Motels or B&B accommodations can be found in nearby Twentynine Palms if you cannot camp.<br />
<br />
* Exact location and directions will be provided after registration. Please don't plan to "just drop by."<br />
<br />
* Visit <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/angeles">https://www.nps.gov/jotr/index.htm</a> for complete National Park Service details<br />
<br />
<br />
MEALS<br />
Friday Night Dinner: An outreach to Villagers who might like to coordinate a potluck Shabbat meal and/or service will be forthcoming.<br />
<br />
Saturday Night Dinner: TBD <br />
<br />
Other Meals and Snacks: Bring food and kitchen/cooking items for your own enjoyment. (Meal-time sharing is encouraged.)<br />
<br />
LEADERSHIP:<br />
Throughout the year, a Leadership Council -- with help and input from other community members -- keeps alive the spirit of Passover Village and plans and organizes our gatherings. Members of the Leadership Council have taken on facilitation of various aspects of Passover Village (with some others' tasks to be decided):<br />
<br />
Marc Weigensberg <br />
Tobi Fishel <br />
Dan Brumer <br />
Laurie Burton <br />
Michael Chusid <br />
Sandra Goodman <br />
Larry Richard <br />
Avram Wagman <br />
Chaim Pittle <br />
<br />
VOLUNTEERING: It takes a village to make a village. Will you help organize or lead…?:<br />
<br />
Baking matzah<br />
Making haroset<br />
Assembling the Seder plate<br />
Bringing music, song, and ruach (spirit)<br />
Preparing a teaching, creative activity, or ritual<br />
Planning a meditation walk<br />
Mentoring our "young warriors" or engaging with Village Kids<br />
Bringing the fruit of the vine<br />
Repairing tent<br />
or whatever your calling.<br />
<br />
The Passover Village will offer a chance to immerse and spend time in these ancient forms as we recreate aspects of the Exodus, celebrate community and share in the traditional "non-traditional, expanded, experimental, enhanced and engaging Passover Village Seder!"<br />
<br />
We invite you to revisit the excellent study notes posted throughout the year to begin your Passover Village experience right away! You will find them elsewhere in the blog pages.<br />
<br />
MORE INFO AND TO VOLUNTEER<br />
<br />
PassoverVillage@gmail.com<br />
Michael (818) 219-4937<br />
Larry (310) 560-6004<br />
Dan 310-396-0706<br />
<br />
<b>NOTICE: Outdoors activities and camping are inherently dangerous. By participating you agree to accept all risks to yourself and property, and to hold harmless the organizers of and participants in Passover Village.</b><br />
<br />
<br />
Revised 2019-02-24 by Michael C.<div class="blogger-post-footer">From http://passovervillage.blogspot.com/.</div>Michael@Chusid.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539490607555267490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27283368.post-77674019866970536242019-02-24T20:24:00.002-08:002019-03-08T22:38:37.197-08:00Passover Village 2019: Invitation and Kavanah<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">L’shem yichud kud’sha b’rich hu u’sh’chinah . . .</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">V’ahavtah l’rey’a’cha k’mo’cha</span></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
For the sake of unification of the Divine
Masculine and the Divine Feminine,<br />
We commit ourselves to the obligation
to love our neighbors as ourselves.
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
Shalom Chevrey, Dear Friends!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
Please join us for our upcoming
25<sup>th</sup> year in the wilderness together! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<b>Dates</b>: Thursday, April 25
– Sunday April 28</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Location</b>: Joshua Tree National Park</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
This year’s village again promises:</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b>Connection</b> <b>with</b> <b>Nature, </b>amid
the amphitheater of boulders in our “home court” in Joshua Tree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In an age of global climate catastrophes and
the threat of extinction, being with the Earth, the Great Mother, seems one of
the only logical steps to take;</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b>Connection with Community</b> – gathering of
old and new friends, relatives, elders, youngers, recognizing the essence of
each other, envisioning new ways to live together as brothers and sisters; and </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b>Connection with Sacred Ritual</b> –
continuing to awaken our indigenous mind through <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>earth-based ceremonies, enlivening old
rituals, creating authentic experiences of the sacred<s><span style="color: red;"></span></s>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Kavanah for 2019</span></b>
(spiritual intention)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As in years past, we will carry an additional <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">kavanah</span> into the Village, born from
our year-long study of <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">the Book of
Joshua</span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The author(s) clearly
sought guidance for the question, “How shall we not be slaves again?” Just as
clearly, they answered, “By colonizing everything we encounter.” The answer
they perceived led to this:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Joshua 6:15-21: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">“It happened on the seventh day . . . They destroyed everything that
was in the city – man and woman, youth and elder, ox and sheep and ass – by the
edge of the sword.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In this age of climate disruption and planetary destruction,
rising corruption, genocide and ethnic cleansing, white supremacy, demagoguery,
authoritarian governments, and general dis-ease of the culture, we honor the
ancient question – How shall we not be slaves? – by adding further questions:
Does the ancient perception still offer guidance? If not, what then are we
called upon to do?<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<b>Why is this PV different from
all other PVs?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We carry essential and existential questions into this
year’s PV.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have no answers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can barely frame the questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We plan to sit in deep council together and spend much time
leaning on the rocks and listening to what the land has to teach us regarding:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>How do we rid ourselves of our “colonial mind” –
the thought processes and belief systems that result from millennia of
colonization and oppression - where competition, greed, extraction of
resources, and social inequality are the status quo drivers of human behavior? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put another way, how have we been (and
continue to be) colonizers and oppressors of the Earth and the “Other” (both
human and non-human)? </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>What would it be like to collaborate rather than
dominate? To cooperate rather than compete? To listen rather than just hear? To
know that the way things are is not the way things have to be? To organize
human society so that society serves all beings and the earth and not
vice-versa? </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Can developing indigenous mind, earth connection, listening to nature,
and putting humans in right relation with earth and other beings lead us into
the promised land through the shadow of Joshua?</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We will again trust the mythology and ritual of our ancestral
Pesach story to provide a jumping off point to and through difficult territory
and universal questions. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We do this in
order to find relevance for our Village’s existence, to help us understand the
times we live in and the imperatives demanded of us, and to perhaps discover ways
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for us to move together for the sake of
all beings and the planet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The prophet Micah teaches: “<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">What does the Holy require of you but to <i>do justice</i>, to <i>love
kindness</i>, and to <i>walk humbly</i> with your God?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And to riff off our ancient sage Hillel, if we do not do
something to face the destructive forces of conquest and colonization that have
plagued humankind for millennia, who will? And if we do not do it now, then
when?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
B’shalom v’ahavah</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Your Passover Village Leadership Council<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">PS: Though certainly
not necessary, the following brief readings and podcast are suggested if you
want to deepen your immersion into the kavanah questions before coming to PV
(in no particular order):</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">“Extinction
Illness: Grave Affliction and Possibility,” essay published in <i>Tikkun</i>,
by Deena Metzger,<u><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></u></span><a href="https://www.tikkun.org/newsite/extinction-illness-grave-affliction-and-possibility"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">https://www.tikkun.org/newsite/extinction-illness-grave-affliction-and-possibility</span></a><u><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Decolonizing Restorative Justice" by Denise C.
Breton,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>pp. 176-190; in “<i><u>Unsettling
Ourselves: </u></i></span><i><u>Reflections and Resources for Deconstructing
Colonial Mentality</u>, a sourcebook compiled by the Unsettling Minnesota
collective</i>”<span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, </span><a href="https://unsettlingminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/um_sourcebook_jan10_revision.pdf"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://unsettlingminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/um_sourcebook_jan10_revision.pdf</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>“White
Fragility“,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Podcast featuring Robin
DiAngelo, at: <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-learners-corner-podcast/the-learners-corner/e/57420409">https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-learners-corner-podcast/the-learners-corner/e/57420409</a></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>And for those who want to take a deeper dive,
take a look at her book “<i>White Fragility: why it’s so hard for white people
to talk about racism</i>” <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__b-2Dok.cc_book_3553806_99f7ce&d=DwMFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=AtbBSO53xV4H6jHI69EgiQ&m=1EhXXm__ICDiFlsFb8FZwMIBbFwbtAv4J-dMSh7J_EI&s=KzeD1LKXsfbb50ea8MGmEa_sBHfMVLr0pfvn3qO2WhE&e=">https://b-ok.cc/book/3553806/99f7ce</a></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><u><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Book
of <i>Joshua</i></span></u></div>
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Arial;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073711037 9 0 511 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Courier New";
panose-1:2 7 3 9 2 2 5 2 4 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073711037 9 0 511 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Wingdings;
panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:2;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:0 268435456 0 0 -2147483648 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
mso-themecolor:hyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
p.MsoListParagraph, li.MsoListParagraph, div.MsoListParagraph
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:.6in .7in 40.3pt .7in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
/* List Definitions */
@list l0
{mso-list-id:993947947;
mso-list-type:hybrid;
mso-list-template-ids:350096406 67698703 67698713 67698715 67698703 67698713 67698715 67698703 67698713 67698715;}
@list l0:level1
{mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l0:level2
{mso-level-number-format:alpha-lower;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l0:level3
{mso-level-number-format:roman-lower;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:right;
text-indent:-9.0pt;}
@list l0:level4
{mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l0:level5
{mso-level-number-format:alpha-lower;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l0:level6
{mso-level-number-format:roman-lower;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:right;
text-indent:-9.0pt;}
@list l0:level7
{mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l0:level8
{mso-level-number-format:alpha-lower;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l0:level9
{mso-level-number-format:roman-lower;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:right;
text-indent:-9.0pt;}
@list l1
{mso-list-id:1300922111;
mso-list-type:hybrid;
mso-list-template-ids:-576038428 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;}
@list l1:level1
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l1:level2
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:o;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:"Courier New";}
@list l1:level3
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l1:level4
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l1:level5
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:o;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:"Courier New";}
@list l1:level6
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l1:level7
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l1:level8
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:o;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:"Courier New";}
@list l1:level9
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l2
{mso-list-id:1599942633;
mso-list-type:hybrid;
mso-list-template-ids:1588113030 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;}
@list l2:level1
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l2:level2
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:o;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:"Courier New";}
@list l2:level3
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l2:level4
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l2:level5
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:o;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:"Courier New";}
@list l2:level6
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l2:level7
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l2:level8
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:o;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:"Courier New";}
@list l2:level9
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Wingdings;}
ol
{margin-bottom:0in;}
ul
{margin-bottom:0in;}
</style>
--><div class="blogger-post-footer">From http://passovervillage.blogspot.com/.</div>Michael@Chusid.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539490607555267490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27283368.post-51296044836622278172019-01-14T14:08:00.003-08:002019-01-14T14:19:28.963-08:00Hold The Date for this year's sederThe Passover Village will, once again, head into the desert for its annual exploration of freedom, nature, and sacred community. Hold the dates: <b>9:00 AM Friday, April 26 until Noon Sunday, April 28, 2019</b>, and check back on this website for updated information about registration.<br />
<br />
We have reservations for a campsites in Joshua Tree National Park. The Park is <a href="https://www.doi.gov/shutdown" target="_blank">currently closed</a> due to a pharaoh whose heart has been stiffened. We hope it will be reopen soon. If you know of an alternative location, however, please contact someone on Leadership Council with your suggestion.<div class="blogger-post-footer">From http://passovervillage.blogspot.com/.</div>Michael@Chusid.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539490607555267490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27283368.post-37592048613978970872018-10-15T12:24:00.000-07:002018-10-15T12:24:17.202-07:00We are studying the book of Joshua this year.Each year, the Passover Village community selects a book of the Tanach to study. What we learn from the text and our discussions helps shape our plans for the seder and contributes to the energy we bring to the annual gathering.<br />
<br />
This year, we are studying <i>Joshua</i>. We are looking, especially, at how our conquest of Canaan can help us understand the conditions and effects of aggression, war, colonialism, and other forces of our own age. Along the way, we are looking for teachings that unlock spiritual insights.<br />
<br />
It is not necessary to read <i>Joshua</i> in order to attend Passover Village. <div class="blogger-post-footer">From http://passovervillage.blogspot.com/.</div>Michael@Chusid.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539490607555267490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27283368.post-90007498265696861172018-04-09T13:21:00.003-07:002018-04-09T13:28:52.681-07:00The Day After PV 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img src="blob:https://www.blogger.com/94bc756c-e4ae-4662-9adf-9509a281603f" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5r46sppp-V8LoeyeBYT6HBplDFMZoosgU0HUqKvgPnKlcffpdGDS8MFNDo0ECl4jOjCaLgqopW6nubdsC3CVsTEcTYiRCvaxm8NlWGWbI6WPprwdon9LftDfm9oAm7onMT-EfUw/s1600/IMG_7589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="1600" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5r46sppp-V8LoeyeBYT6HBplDFMZoosgU0HUqKvgPnKlcffpdGDS8MFNDo0ECl4jOjCaLgqopW6nubdsC3CVsTEcTYiRCvaxm8NlWGWbI6WPprwdon9LftDfm9oAm7onMT-EfUw/s640/IMG_7589.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: purple; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Beauty, Light and Dancing with the Divine Feminine</i></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="color: purple; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">From http://passovervillage.blogspot.com/.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27283368.post-62838621252207236302018-03-10T09:49:00.000-08:002018-03-10T09:49:12.399-08:00Kavannah 2018<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Kavannah</span>
2018<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As in years past, we carry an additional <span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">kavannah</span> (spiritual intention) into
the Village, borne from our yearlong study since last PV<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of the <i>Divine Feminine in the Hebrew
tradition</i>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We call Her by many
names:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Asherah
. . .Astarte . . .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anat . . . Shechinah
. . . Lilit . . . Sarah . . . Miriam. </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do these images, ideas, and archetypes
have to teach us in this age of #metoo and #timesup?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In these times, what are we to make of the
Zohar legend of the exile of Shechinah and her longing for union with HaKadosh
Baruch Hu?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What have the ancients
passed on to us in their Yichudim <span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;">–</span>
prayers of unification of Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What does it mean to honor the Feminine in
Nature, the Great Mother, to offer ecstatic prayers to the Queen of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the Heavens while dancing around a tree?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is this not also our Hebrew tradition?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why has none of this been passed down through
Torah, Talmud, Hebrew school? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was the
Feminine deliberately suppressed in our tradition, a reflection of the shift
from matriarchal traditions to patriarchy that was happening in the ancient
world at the age of formation of Judaism?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What traumas have been perpetuated because of this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How have modern day women suffered from
this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Modern day men? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can we reclaim our connection to Her, and
does She want to be reclaimed?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All of these topics are in the field, as we gather and enter
our holy campground for another season of praise and community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moses asked Pharoah to allow the people to go
out to the wilderness to serve their God for 3 days, and so we do the same. We
hope you will joyfully join us this year in our councils, dances, rituals, and
prayers as we seek relation with Her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>HE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">From http://passovervillage.blogspot.com/.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27283368.post-59968285030726005942018-03-10T09:45:00.001-08:002018-03-10T10:31:00.836-08:00Invitation to Passover Village 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLunhrZunTujdEaQiYaNSb3JV5WVtslq43YHtCiBYMniKkmUBOrtKHav_LpyWFnJH00jhElwoi9Ex3-Q7aJ8vwdqH0z58CpkP9IFdBp7iO5qhYJf9U8zspY_FFdxYXzXVjUJ2ccQ/s1600/Joshua+Tree+vintage+poster.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="529" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLunhrZunTujdEaQiYaNSb3JV5WVtslq43YHtCiBYMniKkmUBOrtKHav_LpyWFnJH00jhElwoi9Ex3-Q7aJ8vwdqH0z58CpkP9IFdBp7iO5qhYJf9U8zspY_FFdxYXzXVjUJ2ccQ/s320/Joshua+Tree+vintage+poster.png" width="228" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Dear Passover Villagers, past, present, and future:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
For the past 22 years, our Passover Village community has journeyed into the desert on Passover to reclaim indigenous Hebrew traditions and earth-based ways of being. We have all but lost these traditions during the last two millennia of “civilization.” Returning to the land on Passover has been our means to feel our way back to our core being. We do so by creating a three-day encampment during which we renew connections with our ancestors and nature through storytelling, council, ceremony, song, and community. This year we will again celebrate together in holy community under the sun and stars, amongst the coyotes, desert tortoises, and yucca plants at Joshua Tree National Park in the Mojave desert.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Tradition demands that we relate the story of our liberation from slavery and oppression in Egypt as if we, ourselves, had been present in that Exodus. The ancient story teaches universal lessons of freedom, renewal, and connection to Earth for all peoples. <i>Together with a mixed multitude of other peoples (Exodus 12:38)</i>, the Children of Israel ventured into the wilderness seeking to serve Spirit. With this model of a multicultural, multilingual, and multicolored mass of heart-based community of seekers, we, humbly and with great respect, invite people of all tribes and faiths to share the Passover celebration with us this year, as always. <i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Each year, we have reflected on where we are as a community and that community’s place in the world. While looking back to sacred texts and commentaries we also look within ourselves to see what we might learn, how we might grow and how we can contribute. And, we cannot help but consider all of the above in the context of the times in which we live.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
The times in which we live are, for many, fraught with fear and distrust, disrespect and abuse. Among the most poignant of the themes and issues facing all of us is the place and plight of the oppressed among us. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
These are not new themes, of course. As we closed the Passover Village in Joshua Tree last April, we began to form an intention for this year’s retreat. It is still being crafted, along the lines of <b><i><span style="color: blue;">acknowledgment, respect and support for women, hearing their voices, heeding their calls.</span></i></b> Again, while these issues are not new, no one knew (but anyone might have predicted) that a line would be crossed and women could no longer remain silent in the face of abuse, harassment and worse.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Emboldened by shared stories, women have been speaking up and having an <span style="font-size: 12pt;">impact. As we write, hundreds of thousands of women are marching nationwide.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
We want to say: “We have your backs.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
We have been seeking how the Sacred Feminine Spirit might inform our actions <span style="font-size: 12pt;">while we support our women (each other, and everyone, of course) and to </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">listen from the heart to their voices and their stories.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
We invite you to join us at this year’s Passover Village retreat to deepen the <span style="font-size: 12pt;">conversation, embrace the experience, and be together as we learn from each </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">other.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Women, you are particularly invited to contribute your voice and what’s in your <span style="font-size: 12pt;">heart.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">“We” all need you.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
What are the messages? Does any of this resonate with you? Come. Let’s <span style="font-size: 12pt;">resonate together.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="color: blue;">SAVE THE DATE: </span>Passover Village Retreat, April 6-8, 2018,<span style="color: blue;"> </span>Joshua Tree National Park</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 20px;">* Many of you have already registered to attend; some have already sent the contribution. <u><i>Your place will be reserved provided it’s received by March 1st</i></u>.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 20px;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 20px;">* <u><i>If you HAVEN'T registered </i></u>and want to attend this year, please write ASAP and we will send you registration info.</span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Looking forward to hearing from you. </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Dan</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
m 310-396-0706</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">From http://passovervillage.blogspot.com/.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27283368.post-80868331509294195282017-10-17T20:51:00.004-07:002017-10-17T20:52:58.364-07:00Why I go To the Desert<span class="text Ps-150-6" id="en-NIV-16401">Psalms say, </span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="text Ps-150-6" id="en-NIV-16401">"</span><span class="text Ps-150-6" id="en-NIV-16401"><span class="text Ps-150-6" id="en-NIV-16401">Let everything that has breath praise the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>."</span></span></blockquote>
<span class="text Ps-150-6" id="en-NIV-16401"><span class="text Ps-150-6" id="en-NIV-16401">In the quiet of the desert, I can hear even the stones breath.</span></span><span class="text Ps-150-6" id="en-NIV-16401"><span class="text Ps-150-6" id="en-NIV-16401"> </span> </span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="text Ps-150-6" id="en-NIV-16401">Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise Him in the heights.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="text Ps-150-6" id="en-NIV-16401">Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, stars of light.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="text Ps-150-6" id="en-NIV-16401">Praise the LORD from the earth.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="text Ps-150-6" id="en-NIV-16401">Fire and hail, snow and vapor, stormy wind, fulfilling His word.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="text Ps-150-6" id="en-NIV-16401">Mountains and all hills, fruitful trees and all cedars.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="text Ps-150-6" id="en-NIV-16401">Beasts and all cattle, creeping things and winged fowl.</span></blockquote>
In the desert, I hear them all praising God. <br />
<br />
Halleluyah.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="text Ps-150-6" id="en-NIV-16401"></span><br /></blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<span class="text Ps-150-6" id="en-NIV-16401"><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">From http://passovervillage.blogspot.com/.</div>Michael@Chusid.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539490607555267490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27283368.post-91046583138497871202017-02-27T12:01:00.000-08:002017-02-27T15:31:16.085-08:00Registration & Kavanah for Passover Village 2017<div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: normal;">
<div>
Dear Friends,</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="font-size: medium;">
<b>Registration for Passover Village 2017 is now OPEN!</b></div>
<div style="font-size: medium;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="font-size: medium;">
This email has information for registration but not everything else. Please also visit: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px;"><a href="http://passovervillage.blogspot.com/">http://passovervillage.blogspot.com</a> for other </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px;">Passover Village info.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial;">
<div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>LOCATION</b></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">
This year we will be returning to the spectacular group camps in Joshua Tree National Monument. Exact location and directions will be provided with registration confirmation.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<b>DATES</b></div>
<div>
Friday-Sunday</div>
<div>
April 14 – April 16, 2017</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Come Early:</b></div>
<div>
Camp is available to us as early as 3:00 pm Wednesday, April 12th. <i>Otherwise, plan to arrive by 8:00 am Friday at the latest to set-up </i><i>your personal camp and join the opening circle at 9:00 am.</i></div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px;"><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">KAVANAH</b><b>: </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><i>Kavanah (</i>Spiritual Intention) for Passover Village 2017<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">A voice calls out<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">In the wilderness, open a path to the Holy One!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"> Isaiah<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">If you don’t know the kind of person I am<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">And I don’t know the kind of person you are<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">A pattern that others made may prevail in the world<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">And following the wrong god home we may miss our star.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"> William Stafford<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";">From the Leadership Council:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";">For the past 21 years, our Passover Village community has journeyed into the desert on Passover to reclaim indigenous Hebrew traditions and earth-based ways of being. We have all-but lost these traditions during the last two millennia of “civilization.” Returning to the land on Passover has been our means to feel our way back to our core </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">being.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">We do so by creating a three-day encampment during which </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">we renew connections with our ancestors and nature through storytelling, council, ceremony, song, and community. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica";">This year we will again celebrate together in holy community under the sun and stars, amongst the coyotes, desert tortoises, and yucca plants at Joshua Tree National Park in the Mojave desert.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Tradition demands that we relate the story of our liberation from slavery and oppression in Egypt as if we, ourselves, had been present in that Exodus. The ancient story teaches universal lessons </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica";">of freedom, renewal, and connection to Earth for all peoples. <i>Together with a mixed multitude of other peoples</i>, </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">the Children of Israel </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica";">ventured into the wilderness seeking to serve Spirit. With this model of a multicultural, multilingual, and multicolored mass of heart-based community of seekers, we, humbly and with great respect, invite people of all tribes and faiths to share the Passover celebration with us this year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";">There is now a special urgency. Our post-11/8 world requires new ways of being, that are old ways of being. The Hebrew prophets called out doom and gloom and yet opened a path through the wilderness back to the Holy. The times call upon elders to bring accumulated wisdom to the world, and balance back to the culture. Since 11/8, we have been gathering in council circles to share from the heart and seek ways to traverse the dangerous chasm that has opened in our nation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";">So it is in this spirit that we welcome people of all faiths and tribes to join in the wider conversation that Passover can inspire. We learn from each other’s tribal wisdom traditions and stories of liberation. We bridge divisions and estrangement. Coming together with peoples of good heart and spirit is the path through the moral wilderness that separates, divides, and oppresses us individually.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica";">This year in Joshua Tree.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica";">Next year in a world of social and environmental justice.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<b>REGIS<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">TRATION INFORMATION (you may also use the attached form):</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div>
<div dir="ltr">
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Send the following (required):<br />1. * Payment (requested contribution is $90/adult or child 13-and-over; </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">children who are 12-and-under free! *</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. The name, phone number, and email address of each adult being registered</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. The name and ages of any children aged 17-and-under, and the name of the adult registrant who will be responsible for each child.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4. The number and description of vehicles.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5. The date and time you plan to arrive.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">6. Make checks payable to LARRY RICHARD</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">7. Mail to:</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Larry Richard<br />2118 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 594<br />Santa Monica, CA 90403<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br /><br />(Larry's cell: <a href="tel:310-560-6004" target="_blank" value="+13105606004">310-560-6004</a>)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br />
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />* Must be received by April 1, 2017 to confirm your space.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">* Includes all camping fees and <b>delicious, catered Seder meal</b>.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">* Genuine financial hardship should not keep you from attending. Please let us know how you can contribute.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">* Volunteers needed: 1) help loading gear on Wed April 12th, 2) transporting to and from camp, 3) unloading gear on Sun April 16th</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: bold;"></span></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 18px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: bold;"><b>AGREEMENTS</b></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: bold;">
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><b><br /></b></span></b></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><b>By registering for this retreat, attendees also agree to the following:</b></span><br style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><br /><i>Photography and Recordings:</i></span></b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Please:</span></b></blockquote>
<b>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-- When we are gathered In Community with a common focus, or "In Session," put away cameras and recording devices.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-- When we are not gathered as a focused community, having lunch, talking with others, etc., photos and recording are allowed within bounds of respect, privacy and permission: Be discrete, non-intrusive, and respectful of all participants when taking any photographs or recording; some may prefer not to be photographed or recorded at all.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-- Do not publish photos or recordings in public media</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-- If unsure about a photo or recording, do not take or publish it.</span></blockquote>
<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Personal Displays and Self Promotion: </span></i><br style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;" /><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the spirit of a retreat, so that we might leave behind the things of the day to day world, please do not bring personal displays or promotional items into community areas.</span></blockquote>
<div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thank you!</span></div>
</b></div>
</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b>CARPOOLING</b></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
This is strongly encouraged and a great way to start the Village before you arrive. Parking onsite is very limited. Let us know if you need or can offer a ride. </div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>SHARING THE BURDEN, LIGHTENING THE LOAD</b></div>
<div>
If you find you will be traveling alone, please consider offering to partner with another Passover Villager to share driving, camp set-up and meals. If you are strong, please share. If you are not so strong, please ask for help. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b style="background-color: #f6f6f6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A</b><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CCESSIBILITY:</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The campground is accessible via road. The outhouses meet ADA requirements for accessibility. Most of the campsite is sandy or loose soil, making wheelchair mobility difficult. But as during our exodus from Egypt, when the infirm and disabled were carried, we will accommodate special needs.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>PARKING</b></div>
<div>
<b></b><br />
<div style="display: inline !important;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Parking is limited in the group site parking lot. </span></b></div>
<b>
</b><b></b><br />
<div style="display: inline !important;">
Overflow parking is available a short drive away and shuttle rides back to camp can be arranged as needed. RV parking is restricted by size (25’ max) as well as total number of all vehicles.</div>
</div>
<div>
<b></b><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<b>
</b></div>
<div>
<b>CAMPSITE DETAILS</b></div>
<div>
* Our secluded group site is nestled within a 100’ surround of the enigmatic and evocative boulders of Joshua Tree </div>
<div>
* We do not have running water however community water supply and personal water containers can be filled for free at the ranger station about one mile away</div>
<div>
* Multiple picnic tables and a community barbecue pit </div>
<div>
* Two pit toilets in weather-protected brick building</div>
<div>
<b>* </b>There are sites for individual tents scattered throughout the group site.</div>
<div>
* This is a family-friendly site, however it is in the National Park and precautions are advised against the elements and around prickly shrubs.</div>
<div>
* This site is a 2-3 hour drive from the Los Angeles area. Motels or B&B accommodations can be found in nearby Twentynine Palms if you cannot camp.</div>
<div>
* Exact location and directions will be provided after registration. Please don't plan to "just drop by."</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">* Visit</span> <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/angeles">https://www.nps.gov/jotr/index.htm</a> for complete National Park Service details</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>We hope there is enough information provided here but if you have any questions, call or write at your earliest opportunity!</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
See you soon,</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Dan</div>
<div>
C 310-396-0706</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">From http://passovervillage.blogspot.com/.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27283368.post-24665742023107467672017-02-13T19:36:00.001-08:002017-02-13T19:36:15.784-08:00Looking Outward<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
The Passover Village has been meeting
for 21 years, going into the desert as a group of Hebrews/Jews plus friends to draw
inspiration from nature and to relive our Exodus into freedom.</div>
<br />
In a recent daylong Leadership Council meeting, we
decided that we can not address our liberation this year by looking
inward.<br />
<br />
Instead, we are looking outward and inviting members of other
faith and tribal traditions to join us to share their stories, too, and
find what we have in common.<br />
<br />
Watch for more information or contact a member of Leadership Council.
<div class="blogger-post-footer">From http://passovervillage.blogspot.com/.</div>Michael@Chusid.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539490607555267490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27283368.post-52910512604060512762017-02-06T12:52:00.003-08:002017-02-06T12:52:47.099-08:00Indigenous Hebrew Reflections on Standing Rock<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Marker Felt"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Indigenous
Hebrew Reflections on Standing Rock <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Marker Felt"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Some context to what follows:
Although we may not have known exactly what we were getting into at the time,
21 years ago we in the nascent Passover Village (PV) began a quest to dig down
deep into the Earth to recover our connection to our ancient Hebrew ancestors
and reclaim our indigenous Hebrew soul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As current events have evolved, with the election of a neo-fascist
government, the accelerating destruction of Earth through climate change, and
the rise of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a grass roots
indigenous resistance movement, I am left to ponder what the wisdom of an
authentic Hebrew indigenous tradition has to offer in these times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What follows then are some reflections
on my experiences at Standing Rock in early December.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Marker Felt"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">It has been just over a month since I
returned from 3 days in Standing Rock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Although I could only go for a short time, I knew I had to go, to be
there, to witness, to see and understand with my own eyes, to support those
protectors who were on the front lines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>People ask me: “How was it?”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t have the words to answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Great!” is an absurd answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Amazing”, inadequate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Real” perhaps getting closer, but no one would understand that
answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“A walking prayer” is
perhaps the most accurate, but there is little in the Western mind to
understand the depth of what that means.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Marker Felt"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">When you drive into
the Oceti Sakowin camp and get out of the car, there is a palpable sense that
you have entered another world, another way of being.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a community of prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a community of ceremony.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a community of respect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People live there in a different mind, and a different
heart, from the way we live in modern, western culture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One knows the air you are breathing is
different, though you may not quite know how.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We dropped off our offerings of buffalo meat to the kitchen
and medical supplies to the medic tent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I looked for my sweat lodge brother’s tipi, but couldn’t find it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We made our way to the dome, where the
day’s schedule of meetings was posted on a white board and where the community
meets in council each morning, but it was afternoon and we would have to wait
for the next day for our orientation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We met a young woman with bright eyes and wide-open heart, who welcomed
us and told us of communal tents where someone without their own shelter could
sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We made our way to the
sacred fire in the center of the camp, where the man on the microphone
announced comings and goings – this person needs a ride to Bismarck, this
person needs some firewood – and where the drummers and singers interspersed
sacred Lakota prayer songs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
recognized the songs from my travels on the Red Road, and I recognized the
feelings of being around the central fire, seeing the man tend it with
intention and stillness, focus and deference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew that I stood in the heart place of a community of
prayer, standing there with all those who had been there for months and all
those who, like us, had just recently arrived to stand with the Native peoples.
A tall native man, a US combat veteran with an American flag tucked into his
backpack, had just that moment arrived to the camp and was given the mike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had walked much of the way from
Oklahoma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As he spoke, other
native veterans joined the group, made a circle, and welcomed this man, giving
him water, food, and shelter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
I knew then what this struggle was about, the struggle which we had come to
support.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Colonial Mind<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">You must know, it
isn’t just about water, though water is the precipitant reason for the current
stand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it is right that water
should be - that Elemental that carries the essence of fluidity, purification,
healing, constant movement and flowing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“You will draw forth the water with joy from the wellsprings of
salvation ”, Isaiah tells us. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course water is calling us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it isn’t about her only.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is the force of healing, what is
needed to heal, and it is for that global healing that we are called together
to stand, and to point out to our friends, relatives, the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Our world has
suffered terribly for over 2000 years from a plague I will call “colonial
mind”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the plague of a way
of thinking that is imperialistic, greedy, colonial, and conquest-driven,
combined with a religious scaffolding that claims to be the god-given
“Way”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a mind that across the ages has led to death,
genocide, environmental destruction, and repetitive cycles of tragedy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the mind that says we need more,
more, always more – more oil, more profit, more land, more growth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the mind that led to the Native
American genocide, which most people in our country won’t even acknowledge or think
about, let alone address honestly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It led to the shameful practice of American slavery of African peoples and
the ongoing fallout from that horrific trauma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it led to millennia of persecution, hatred, and
massacres of my people, the Jews, culminating in the Holocaust.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a mind of arrogance and
narcissism, a taking mentality, and it is the basis for the dominant culture of
the United States, which promotes greed, status, and individual success above
such communal values of balance, harmony, and respect for all things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">As a Jew, it is easy
to blame Christianity for this state of affairs, specifically the Pauline<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christianity<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that chose to supercede rather than co-exist with Judaism,
the Christianity that was combined and launched with the abusive, imperial
power of Rome under Constantine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This led to centuries of persecution, pogroms, forced conversions, and
Holocaust.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I also have to look
in the mirror, and read the sacred texts of my own people to see what role we
may have played as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One does
not have to look far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the Torah,
God gives Moses the charge: wipe out the Canaanite nations that are currently
in the land into which I will bring you so that you may possess it and inherit
it (Deuteronomy 20:17). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is this not
imperial/colonial mind, justified and presented by the writers of the Torah as
an instruction from the Holy One?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And the Book of Joshua describes this conquest in gruesome, bloody detail,
the slaughter of every man, woman, and child, and even animals of village after
village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t help but think: is not this the
precursor, some 3000 years earlier, of the policy of Manifest Destiny that was
used in the genocide of the native peoples of North America?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did Judaism then, through its sacred
scriptures, play a role in transmitting this poison into the world, which then
Christianity took to such murderous extent, that it now infects the entire
planet?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why didn’t Joshua “just
say no”?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was precedent for
disagreeing with Divine instruction. When God told Abraham he was going to
destroy Sodom and Gemorrah, Abraham argued with God to spare the cities for the
sake of only 10 righteous people that might still live there (Genesis 18:32). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is understood as one of the 10
tests of Abraham, who is understood in the Jewish tradition to represent the
archetype of Hesed, loving-kindness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But neither Joshua nor Moses challenged the Holy One at this critical
moment. Perhaps that was their test, and they failed miserably.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we are still suffering to this day
because of it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">DAPL and Energy Transfer
Partners is just the latest manifestation of this destructive mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They see nothing wrong with putting a
pipeline under one of the biggest water sources in the United States,
desecrating (yet again) sacred Native lands and burial sites, ignoring (yet
again) treaties made with the native peoples, because it will lead to profit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For to them, really, nothing else
matters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oil spills and death of
animals and poisoning of water – it’s not the water the CEOs and investors of Energy
Transfer Partners drink, so why care about a bunch of poor brown and red people
who will have their water poisoned? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it must be known by all that DAPL is not the only oil
pipeline being built, for ugly and dangerous black snakes of pipelines are
crossing the nation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But DAPL is just
a symptom, just another example of the destructive, crazy mind that has
destroyed countless indigenous peoples, that has polluted our air and brought
us climate change that threatens all of our existence (which of course that
mind denies, against all objective evidence, because if it did not deny, it
would have to actually face the facts of what it has done and is doing).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">These Times<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">So, it’s clear we are
in a time, a new time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s call
it “these times”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the rise in
the U.S. of a mostly white, abusive, greed-driven, power hungry, racist,
fascist-leaning government, it should be clear to all what we are facing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We cannot pretend this is not
happening, or we will all be destroyed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As Martin Luther King said, “Together we must learn to live as brothers,
or together we will be forced to perish as fools.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And as the Lakota people teach, we must think of the
children 7 generations down from us, and base every action from that
perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or as the Hebrew
people say, the wrongdoings of the fathers will be transmitted 11 generations .
. . unless we say “no”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unless we
stand, and meet the test.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Standing Rock Sioux have given us a great gift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In their example, they have shown us what it means to have
fortitude, bravery, compassion, respect, and humility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is time to stand to save the Earth
Mother and the community of all beings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is time to stop the greed-driven destruction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good people of good heart can do
this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All it takes for evil to
triumph is for good people do nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Back to my time at Standing
Rock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The native people told us, in
our orientation to the camp where they transmitted the words of the elders, to
look at our actions, to explore our colonized minds, to understand that we are
“settler citizens” and have been acting like this for hundreds of years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Custer raped the Black Hills for gold, Energy
Transfer rapes the land for black gold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And also, I feel
there is another important element.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We must see our “enemies” as “no enemies”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are human beings, like us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they are also traumatized, either personally or
culturally or historically, and they know not what they do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, while standing firmly and
resolutely, we must stand with empathy and love and complete nonviolence. The
struggle is not one to be engaged with anger and hatred.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is the very mind we are struggling
against.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must remain in our
hearts, with prayer, ceremony, community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is the gift given to us by the Standing Rock Sioux and the historic
gathering of over 200 other native tribes who have joined them in North
Dakota.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must stand for the Earth,
for our children and their children, and theirs down 7 or 11 generations, with
a love so deep, and a desire for peace and balance so strong, that all the genocidal
forces of that colonial mind have no way to get traction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If such a stand had happened in the
1930s in Germany, 6 million of my people would not have been slaughtered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If this had happened in the United
States in the decades preceding the late 19th century, the genocide of the
native peoples of this continent would not have happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">But it seems not
enough to know what we are standing against.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems we must know what we are standing for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And for that, again, we owe a debt of
gratitude to the native peoples, and in this case the Standing Rock Sioux in
particular.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One just need look
around the camp and listen to the teachings of the elders to understand what
this movement is all about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
about prayer, ceremony, community, connection to Earth, and connection to
Spirit. All spiritual traditions that speak to these common values are welcome
at the table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Judaism that lives
by “love your neighbor as you love yourself” is welcome to join a movement that
honors “all my relations”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But a
Judaism that thrives on the Joshuaic idea that justifies oppression, imprisonment,
and killing because “God gave us this land, and it is ours not theirs” is off
track and out of balance with both the land and our fellow human beings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Christianity that follows the loving
teachings of Jesus is welcome, but the Chrisitanity feels it is <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“the way”, and that God has given it
license to put down other traditions as “Christ killers”, “savages”, or other
historical epithets that self-justified conquest, power, and genocide, is not
welcome, and must look at itself fully in the mirror and make amends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An Islam that is guided by the loving
principles of the prophet is welcome, but a murderous Islam that twists the
meaning of jihad, beheads civilians, and terrorizes people of all faiths is
not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">In the Torah God
gives the people the challenge: you may choose blessing, or curse, life or
death (Deuteronomy 30:19).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
seems too long that humankind has followed the path of curse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This path is one of division,
self-righteousness, imbalance, greed, extraction capitalism, use, and
abuse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Really, haven’t we all had enough?.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The positive and loving messages of all
faiths show us the path: prayer, ceremony, community, Earth, Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isn’t it about time we chose the
blessing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isn’t it about time we
chose life?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Marker Felt"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Water
is Life<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Marker Felt"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Mni wiconi, water is life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the “billboard” of the Standing
Rock movement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On my last morning
in the camp, I went to the dawn community prayer ceremony at the sacred
fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An elder, a Tlingit woman
from the Pacific Northwest, led the prayer and the ceremonial walk to the
river.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She taught us a chant and implored
us to translate it into our languages and share it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is the chant and its English translation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Marker Felt"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Mni t’hey hey hey la <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Water I
love you<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Marker Felt"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Mni wopeda e’ chi chi ya <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Water I
thank you<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Marker Felt"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Mni o ha la hey. <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Water I respect you<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Marker Felt"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Here is my version of the Hebrew form,
recognizing that I take license with some of the grammar. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wondered, should I translate to modern
Hebrew, or the ancient biblical Hebrew of our indigenous ancestors?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The latter seems more appropriate for
this use, but modern Hebrew speakers would be puzzled. I ended up with a mix,
for the poetry of it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I use mostly
feminine forms of the verbs – haven’t we had enough of the patriarchy,
really?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And somehow the sweetness
of the song, that it was sung as a processional water ceremony led by native
women, gently asks for us to honor that Feminine aspect of both God and our
souls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the Hebrew tradition we
know Her as Shechinah, or long before we knew Her by that name, we knew Her as Asherah.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Marker Felt"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Mayim ohevet otach<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Marker Felt"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Mayim modah ani lach, modeh ani lach<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Marker Felt"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Mayim m’kavedet otach<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">On Being Human<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Following that water
ceremony, I got cold from the below 20 degree temperature and brisk wind at the
river.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was shivering as I walked
through the camp, and I found my friend’s tipi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He came out and walked me to their kitchen tent, where about
8-10 people were milling about in the cozy, propane-heated interior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He led me to a big pot of hot beef
stew, which I poured and warmed myself with from the inside as I sat by the
heater.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I have never had
such a rich and delicious stew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
met a woman who spoke of her tribe, the Maudi of Northern California.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I do not know of your people,” I told
her, “but I will learn”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were one of the dozens
of California Indian tribes decimated by the Catholic missions, whose leader, Junipero
Serra, was recently canonized by the pope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The woman said she really needed some thermal underlinings,
and I offered the pair of women’s long underwear my mother had given me just a
few days earlier to donate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
a brief meeting of synchronicities, of reciprocal exchange and mutual benefit,
my offering her warmth as the soup and fire of the community kitchen tent
warmed me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Connections, caring,
community, paying it forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
is what it means to be a human being.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Standing Rock and the
community camps there, Oceti Sakowin, Rosebud, Standing Stone, they have shown
us what is possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There will be
many more opportunities to stand together in the coming years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must have heart and come together in
this action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All people from all
spiritual traditions of good will must feel the call, and must come to do
this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the only response we
can have, and the only thing that will stop the shadow that is unashamedly
raising its head, yet again, in our country at this time, threatening to
divide, conquer, ravage, pillage, abuse, and destroy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have only love, prayer, ceremony, community, Earth, Spirit,
balance, harmony, respect, humility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mitakuye oyasin – All
my relations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mayim Ha'chayim – Water
is life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>2400</o:Words>
<o:Characters>13682</o:Characters>
<o:Company>USC</o:Company>
<o:Lines>114</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>27</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>16802</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">From http://passovervillage.blogspot.com/.</div>Marc Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15048875649745344457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27283368.post-17887161385315220012017-02-06T12:49:00.000-08:002017-02-06T12:49:11.018-08:00Torah Study 01-07-17: Isaiah<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Notes from Torah Study 01-07-17<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Location:
Dan & Laurie’s<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Started
with chant of Panu Derech , from Isaiah 40:3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Isaiah
prophesized primarily in the kingdom of Judah at a key time in the history of
the Hebrew people, just before and during the Assyrian conquest of the Northern
Kingdom and near-conquest of Judah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He was prophet during the reign of 4 kings of Judah, most notably
Hezekiah, who our sages say could have been the moshiach, if only . . . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">The
book of Isaiah is huge, and it’s study could take us at least a full year at
the rate we typically go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However,
it contains some very famous lines that have been used in Hebrew liturgy, song,
and even in the general culture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So we focused on some of those sections where these quotable quotes are
found. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">The
book of Isaiah, while like the other prophets has its share of doom and gloom,
also is known for its transcendant vision to a time when all nations live as
one, the age of moshiach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As our
study begins to wind down for the year, and as we face the impending change in
government administration, it seems the more upbeat tone of Isaiah might be
welcome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Isaiah 2:1-4: “The torah
will go forth from Zion .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>. . they
will cut their swords into ploughs . . . no nation will lift a sword against
another nation, and they will no longer learn war”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">The
prophet speaks of a time we all yearn for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Haven’t we had enough of war, really?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That the same material could make
swords with which to kill, and ploughs with which to work with the earth to
feed, illuminates the principle, always present in Jewish teachings, of free
will and freedom to choose that humans have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blessing or curse, life or death – the choice is
always ours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">And,
again, in the verses that immediately follow this uplifting and idyllic imagery,
Isaiah goes right back to elucidating the sins of the people, including
bringing in other forms worship and the addiction to materialism, that are
leading to national destruction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This back and forth is present in all the prophets, reminding us that as
humans we all have both parts within us at all times, the joy-heartfull and the
violent-hurtful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The prophet
exhorts the people to remember their spiritual practices, not to practice those
of others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Relating this to modern
trends, it does make one think of the role of honoring what has been passed
down, to know one’s own ancestral spiritual heritage well at least, to have
that context before exploring others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">To
answer the question “Who am I?” flows from these considerations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Michaelangelo’s depiction on the
ceiling of the Sistine Chapel of God reaching out to touch Adam
finger-to-finger was invoked, noting that God is pictured within a shape that
has been described as that of the human brain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or perhaps it’s a womb?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we also recognize that this is not the story of the
Hebrew myth of First Man’s birth, as Genesis 2:7 describes first human being
formed of the dust of the earth, enlivened with soul by the breath of
Creator/Elohim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Isaiah 6:1-10 “Holy, holy,
holy is the Master of Legions, the entire world is filled with His glory!”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Isaiah
has a mystical vision of the Holy one, rivaling those of Moses and (later)
Ezekiel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This line, which is read
daily in the Jewish siddur, is called out from one angelic being to another who
are in the presence of the Holy One.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Seraphim have six wings – do they look like insects?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or perhaps like the structure of the
Aitz Chayim?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Six alludes to the
letter vav, the connecting letter meaning “and”, but also grammatically
reversing past and future, as well as indicating the 6 middle sefirot in the
Tree that connect the upper divine emanations to the earthly kingdom of
Malchut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">The
question: “Why is God always said to be in the sky?”, led to much discussion
about ideas of God imminent (as in Shechinah) and God transcendent (HaKadosh
Baruch hu), as well as similar concepts in other spiritual traditions, e.g.
Father Sky and Mother Earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We,
as humans, seem to need to dichotomize in this way, see things as up and down
from our own perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Earth is
worshipped as being here, dark, present, as compared to the out there, light,
transcendent character of Sky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">The
seraphin take a hot coal from the altar with a tong – why the detail of the
tong? – and touch it to Isaiah’s lips to cleanse him of his sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This feels like the shofar blast of Yom
Kippur!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isaiah
responds to this anointment to his task with a bold “Hineni”, and he is given
his marching orders to point out to the people they have ears but do not hear,
and eyes but do not see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
vision ends with the promise that though much of the nation will be lost, there
will be a regeneration from the remnant, for the trunk of the tree is “holy
seed”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is earth energy, this
is the energy that regenerates the forest after a fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the energy of the Jewish
people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Isaiah 11:1</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“ . . . there will go
forth a shoot from the trunk of Yishai and a blossom will grow “.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">This
idea of regeneration, here connected to the line of David, son of Yishai,
continues in this verse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isaiah
moves into a description of the era of the moshiach, when . . . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Isaiah 11:6</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“the wolf will live
with the sheep, and the leopard will lie peacefully with the kid .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>. .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the earth has become filled with the knowledge of the
Infinite One”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">What
do our prophecies offer the world?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In this era, ancient prophetic wisdom from many indigenous peoples is
being made known (e.g. the condor and the eagle shall fly together).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The words of Isaiah speak of a
time that will transcend nationalism and war.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">And
yet, and also, the times lived by Isaiah were times of tribal war, including
between Israel and Judah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we
can interpret much of the canonized Hebrew bible as being chosen to show the
superiority of Judah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">“I’m
angry at religion!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s the new
religion – be a (expletive) human being, your religion is secondary!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We ache for a transcendent unification
beyond religion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or maybe not
transcendant, maybe a going down, getting earthy, connection “below” the flying
aspirations of religion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yet,
religion inspired Michaelangelo,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>and explains in words what can’t be put into words, serves as<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>conduit, a ground, a language to hold
the common experiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Isaiah 12:3<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“ . . . and you will draw water with joy from the
wellsprings of salvation . .”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">The
earthiness of the text brings us into joyful contact with the element of
water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Water, so present in our
consciousness these days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mni
Wiconi – water is life, the meme of the Standing Rock movement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rains that have been blessing LA
and California these past weeks, so needed, we are so grateful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if, every time you drank water,
bathed in water, saw water, you remembered these words of the prophet and
allowed water to connect you with the Infinite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That would be an example of living in the world with
indigenous mind, or being a walking prayer, or grabbing your friend by the hand
on each side and dancing in a joyous circle – mayim, mayim, mayim . . .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>1029</o:Words>
<o:Characters>5866</o:Characters>
<o:Company>USC</o:Company>
<o:Lines>48</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>11</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>7203</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Next gathering</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">: Saturday February 4, 10-noon, location TBD <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">From http://passovervillage.blogspot.com/.</div>Marc Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15048875649745344457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27283368.post-57297248225594774342017-02-06T12:46:00.000-08:002017-02-06T12:46:19.942-08:00Torah Study 11-05-16: Jeremiah<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Notes from Torah Study
11-05-16<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Location:
Marc and Tobi’s<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Called
in Shechinah with Lecha Dodi, and dedicated the circle to the Standing Rock
protestors of the Dakota Access Pipeline.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Check-ins
had several people talking about ways in which they feel more restrained in
responses to situations, perhaps more thoughtful in reactions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This led us to consider that this is
one way in which an elder takes his/her place in the community: being less
reactive, less likely to jump into the deep end of a situation head first (at
least before knowing whether or not there are boulders just beneath the
surface).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">A
round of Council: Where are you in our current study of the latter prophets, in
general and also vis-à-vis the topic of eldering?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">I’m Ok with the study we’ve
been doing in this circle, but not at all sure how to link it to what we do at
PV<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Not connecting to the
prophets except intellectually<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">It is always darkest before
the dawn - We are disconnected from Earth and from Creator<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">There is nothing new under
the sun - the Dakota access pipeline in the news now, the army corp is not
listening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And there are signs –
the buffalo showing up<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Study of prophets is heady,
negative, stuck and earthbound – no light<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Elders are practical –
studying prophets is like a cold dip<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">I’m not inspired (by
prophet study), left me cold<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">I am a prophet, we’re all
prophets<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">I am an elder – I want to
share my stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My spirit
speaks, wants to share with community<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Study leads to
understanding the historical context of the age and how it parallels with today<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">The call back to the Divine
– what does that look like?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Prophets remind of the
Heyokah (contrary) in Native American tradition<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Intellectual gifts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Heyokah comparison
intriguing: they are mirrors and teachers, satire to point out the difficult
questions, provoke fear when people complacent and secure<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">I wish I knew what the
people were doing that was so bad!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Damn you, damn you, damn
you!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why put that into the
canon?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">They were fearless, or
fearful but took action anyway<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Acceptance of eldership/leadership
</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">à</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"> take that to the
community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Proclaim our embrace of
that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Larry
passed around a document he had collated, “The Messages of the Prophets”, which
summarized each prophet’s basic message and quotable quotes down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">We
read today from Jeremiah, “cherry-picking” bits of this large book to look at
some of the questions raised in the above council.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Jeremiah 1:1-3: Jeremiah,
son of Hilkiah of the Kohanim . . . in Anathoth, Benjamin.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">We
are introduced to Jeremiah, finding out he was from the clan of priests, the
son of the Kohen Gadol, Hilkiah, who served during King Josiah’s reign.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He prophesied during Josiah’s reign,
during which Josiah reformed the Temple and tore down all the places of worship
on hills involving trees and goddess worship that had gone on throughout the
history since entering the land under Joshua.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His prophecy continued through the final years of the
kingdom of Judah, the final king Zedekiah, and consisted primarily of warnings
of the inevitability of Jerusalem’s destruction and the peoples’ exile at the
hands of Nebuchadnezzer of Babylon, and then solace to the remnant and promises
of rebuilding to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Jer 1:7: Do not say “I am
just a youth”!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">As
HaShem gives him his prophet’s license, Jerry, like Moses before him, tries to
defer, saying he does not know how to speak, and that he is “just a
youth”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can’t get away from your
destiny, God responds, youth or elder or whatever, you must speak – “Before I
formed you in the belly I knew you . . . wherever I send you, you shall go,
whatever I shall command you, you shall speak.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is the sense that we are all born to destiny, and that
speaking our truth, no matter our age or position in society, is what is
intended.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Jer 6:1:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>. . .sound the shofar in Tekoa and hoist
a flag over Beth-cherem . . .”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">The
English translation loses the poetry and alliteration of the Hebrew ( vit’koah
tik’u) in the play of words for the Judean town of Tekoa and the Tekiah of the
shofar blast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This line also
alludes to the use of shofar and flags to announce momentous times or
beginnings of holy days, in this case a warning that the armies of Babylon are
approaching from the North.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Jer 7:4: The sanctuary of
HaShem, the sanctuary of HaShem, the sanctuary of HaShem”</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just as Isaiah earlier rebuked the people not to do
meaningless fasting, Jeremiah scolds the tendency of the people to think that
by doing rote rituals in the temple they would be protected from the
consequence of Babylon’s approach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Instead, the people are told to look within to “do justice . . . do not
oppress . . . do not shed innocent blood . . . and do not go after gods of
others to your own harm.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All
being said here seems human behavior – how realistic is it for god to expect
humans to have no sin?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And,
perhaps, is God in position to man as a Heyokah teacher, reflecting what you’re
doing, but is it backwards?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Jer 7:18: “The children
gather the wood, the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead dough to make
pastries for the Queen of Heaven . . .”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Who
is the Queen of Heaven!?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
verse is used as an example of the type of rituals the people were doing that
Jeremiah castigated them for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Archeologists tell us that “the queen of heaven” is an epithet of
several goddesses of the near east (Mesopotamia, Canaan, Egypt, Israel)
including Innana, Ishtar, Isis, Asherah, Astarte/Ashtoreth, Anat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Asherah in particular was clearly
worshipped in both Israel and Judah throughout the duration of the Hebrew
commonwealth, including in and about the Temple in Jerusalem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Hebrew bible typically designates
as “evil kings” those who allowed these practices to take place, while the
“good kings” carried out reforms which destroyed the high places, the sacred
trees, and removed the vestiges of such worship from the land to the extent
they were able.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What exactly
the ritual practices were we cannot know: this verse is one of the only ones in
the Hebrew bible that gives a hint of the earth-based ritual that was carried
out, while most mention of Asherah/Ashtoreth is in the context of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>being railed against as
abominations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">We
ask: what is the political perspective being attempted/accomplished by the
books of Tanach?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Kingdom of
Israel was destroyed in 722, Judah in 586 BCE, and these books written some
time later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Archaeological
evidence in the last few decades now clearly shows worship of these goddess
figures throughout Israel and the surrounding lands during the entire time of
the Hebrew kings and first temple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Were they really as castigated and reviled at the time as our books
would make it seem?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or were these
vestiges of the matriarchy, on the verge of extinction by the growing
patriarchy, just as much an accepted expression of the love of the divine as
were the sacrificial rites of the Temple?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Blue State America were wiped out, and the history
of the demise of the United States left to the Red States to write, who and
what would they blame?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">And
what is really meant by the phrase “the gods of others”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some translate the work for gods,
Elohim, as “powers”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Jeremiah 44:16-19: “ we
will indeed continue . . . to burn incense to the queen of heaven . . . “<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">The
people, most strongly the women, now fled from Jerusalem and exiled in Egypt,
rebel against Jeremiah and tell him they will not listen to him and will
continue to worship as they have done, including burning incense, pouring
libations, and baking delicacies to the feminine aspect of the Divine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was this really idolatry?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did the Kabbalists not reintroduce
prayer to Shechinah, which we continue to this day?.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever your take on the theology here, these verses also
give one of the rare insights into earth-based ritual practices of the people
of those times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whereas Jeremiah
has been railing against these practices as the reason for the fall of the
kingdom, the people say just the opposite: that as long as they did these
practices, all was well, and it was only since they were denied these practices
(presumably by Josiah and others) that<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>the horrors befell Jerusalem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Whose
history shall we believe?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which
view in the mirror is the real object, and which the reflection?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is the lesson of the Heyokah?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">We
closed with questions and reflections:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">My experience of the Divine
is only when I get out of my own way and connect to the incomprehensible . . .
then, there is sweetness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">How have you been damned
and what does your prophet say in response?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Consider a staff ritual at
PV – speaking our elderhood<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">We are all prophets<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">There is no one else, only
us, we are it<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">I must sit with the
Heyokah/mirror thing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>1272</o:Words>
<o:Characters>7256</o:Characters>
<o:Company>USC</o:Company>
<o:Lines>60</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>14</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>8910</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Next gathering</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">: Saturday December 3, 10-noon, location TBD – or maybe when Avram is in
town instead?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">From http://passovervillage.blogspot.com/.</div>Marc Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15048875649745344457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27283368.post-24440262499483912132016-10-08T13:34:00.000-07:002016-10-08T13:34:23.463-07:00Micah2016-Oct-08 Shabbat Shuvah 5777<br /><br />We read Micah today for two reasons. 1) It follows Jonah, which we read last month, in the traditional order of the Prophets, and 2) in preparation for Yom Kippur where the final few verses of the book are read.<br /><br />Like other Prophets, Micah says we have screwed up big-time and will suffer the consequences — yet there is forgiveness and hope.<br />
<br />
To a greater extent than other Prophets, Micah specifically addresses criticism against the rulers and elites of his day, who sound very much like the despots, demagogues, and depraved elites of our day. Much of what Micah says could be directly taken from the newscasts: “You drive the women way from their pleasant homes, you deprive their infants of glory forever… Because of your defilement, terrible destruction shall befall.”<br /><br />Then Micah addresses, what we might call today, the 99%: “And what the Lord requires of you — only to do justice and to love goodness, and to walk modestly with your God.” It is Micah that tells us to “beat our swords into plowshares”.<br /><br />Micah is a poetic work that is easily read as verse. In structure, it changes voice like the preacher appealing to various emotions. For example, after several chapters of strident condemnation, Chapter 6 suddenly becomes a pleading (or taunting) voice, with God asking, “My people, what wrong have I done you? …Tell me.”<br /><br />Here are 7:18 to 7:20, the lines read in the afternoon of Yom Kippur:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Who is a God like You, <br />Forgiving iniquity <br />And remitting transgression; <br />Who has not maintained His wrath forever <br />Against the remnant of His own people, <br />Because He loves graciousness!<br /><br />He will take us back in love; <br />He will cover up our iniquities, <br /><br />You will hurl all our sins Into the depths of the sea.<br />You will keep faith with Jacob, <br />Loyalty to Abraham, <br />As You promised on oath to our fathers In days gone by. </blockquote>
May it come to be.<div class="blogger-post-footer">From http://passovervillage.blogspot.com/.</div>Michael@Chusid.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539490607555267490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27283368.post-62048635072431452962016-08-26T13:47:00.002-07:002016-08-26T13:47:40.481-07:00Hi All<br />
<br />
You're invited to join us as we continue our informal monthly Torah study group. We'll meet on an alternate date this month to "pass over" the Labor Day weekend. Passover Villagers, Steve & Sandy, have graciously offered to host at their home in Agoura.<br />
<br />
At the end of this email below my signature are some reflections from those present last time, unattributed but verbatim.<br />
<br />
We meet again on:<br />
<br />
Saturday<br />
September 10, 2016<br />
10 am till Noon<br />
<br />
Home of Steve & Sandy in Agoura (near 101 and Liberty Canyon)<br />
<br />
RSVP for exact address and directions: <br />
sberman@ucla.edu<br />
310-699-5755<br />
<br />
Skype has been working pretty well for us. We've had multiple participants from far-flung locales (practically) sitting in the living room with us. Send me a Skype contact request (danbrumer) and you can join us from wherever you are.<br />
<br />
As always, visit the blog for lots more: http://passovervillage.blogspot.com/<br />
<br />
See you soon!<br />
<br />
Dan<br />
C 310-396-0706<br />
<br />
Thoughts and reflections from last time, August 6th:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The comment I remember was that generations of Rabbis altered Torah to reflect their interpretations. This reminded me of "The DaVinci Code" where the author posited that the original teachings of Christ were much more in line with modern morals (equality of the sexes, etc) than the "rewritten" teachings that became the 16-20th century church. My summation of Amos was the theme of free will: that there is a natural order of consequences whereby if we as individuals and as peoples do the wrong things too many times (all 4 directions) that the higher power (Hashem) will punish us, according to what Amos prophesized, but that if we abstain from bad choices in time, and return to treating each other in accordance with the commandments, that we will flourish. My take home message is that we have to decide which prophets to believe, ie. ultimately look in our own hearts and be our own moral compass.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
When I can look Life in the eyes,<br />
Grown calm and very coldly wise,<br />
Life will have given me the Truth,<br />
And taken in exchange -- my youth.<br />
-- Sarah Teasdale<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1) There is a recurring theme of "You get to sin 3 times, but the fourth your are screwed."<br />
2) The idea of encirclement is tied to the number four. Israel is surrounded by enemies. Rich people sin against the small farmer by encircling his land. To encircle someone on 4 sides is to surround them, and permit no escape.<br />
3) Threats of Divine punishment are meted out against Israel as well as its neighbors.<br />
4) This is in keeping with Amos' idea that G*d is the G*d of all nations, not just Israel.<br />
5) Economic justice is more important than ceremony. It is easy to imagine Amos raging against the 1%.<br />
6) I do not remember Sarah's exact point, but it was along the lines that the prophets' Hell fire-Damnation talk is good theater.<br />
7) Amos's rant ends on a positive note, with images of juicy mountains and perfectly productive land. <br />
<br />
<br />
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amos_(prophet)<br />
Amos (/ˈeɪməs/; Hebrew: עָמוֹס , Modern Amos, Tiberian ʻāmōs) was one of the Twelve Minor Prophets. An older contemporary of Hosea and Isaiah, Amos was active c. 750 BC during the reign of Jeroboam II, (786–746 BC). He was from the southern Kingdom of Judah but preached in the northern Kingdom of Israel. Amos wrote at a time of relative peace and prosperity but also of neglect of YHWH's laws. He spoke against an increased disparity between the very wealthy and the very poor. His major themes of social justice, God's omnipotence, and divine judgment became staples of prophecy. The Book of Amos is attributed to him.<br />
<br />
1. Was frustrated with reading the “prophecy” in real time but came to appreciate its metaphorical significance. It seemed to foretell nothing but bad actors and bad motivation (by the Israelite’s neighbors and by the Jews themselves). Forced myself to read ahead to the very last section and , lo and behold, the wisdom of the prophecy seemed to show itself in God’s forgiveness and the patience and the righteousness of earthly (human) endurance . <br />
2. I did like the poetic phrasing of the “…not 3 but 4” passages…repeated several times, as a lyrical presentation of some pretty NASTY content.<br />
3. Also appreciated Avrahm’s interpretation of the metaphor presented in Amos, re: the ‘wisdon’ and ‘eldership’ of Amos speaking about good and bad, action and consequences, in such a matter-of-fact kind of way to demonstrate that there is both virtue and evil in all our souls…hence the struggle to find peace and justice in everyday life.<br />
<br />
<br />
And this passage from Wiki was interesting discussing the implications of Social Justice that we speak of regularly (and did so last Sat)<br />
Social Justice<br />
Ancient Interpretations:<br />
The ancient exhortation to what in modern times would be considered social justice is expressed by the voice of God in Amos' teachings. Amos is told by God that the Israelites are going to face divine intervention as institutionalized oppression was running rampant in Israel. God expressed this institutionalized oppression by saying that the Israelites were practicing religiosity without righteousness. By oppressing the poor and failing to practice justice the Israelites were behaving unrighteously; social justice was to be enacted as a core of God’s message in Amos' prophetic teachings.<br />
Modern Interpretations:<br />
Within a few speeches associated with the Civil Rights Movement and political address, Amos' teachings can be found. In Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous speech “I Have a Dream”, King quotes the Book of Amos. The enticing “we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream” was alluding to Amos' message of social justice and by doing so heightened the morale of the oppressed African American population during the Civil Rights Movement (Amos 5:24 ). Similarly and using the very same quote, Bernie Sanders referenced Amos' in his campaign speech, rhetorically implying he stands for social justice.<br />
<br />
<br />
I hardly remember this am but it was lovely: I do remember all the imagery of destruction, fire and brimstone but ending with that beautiful passage of honey dripping from the mountains, and "everything right with the world"----that was so beautiful; may it come to be!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The One Who Is says:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Days are coming when your bounty is so great</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">that the season for plowing will overlap the season</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">for reaping;</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">when the pressing of grapes will overla the planting</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">of new seed;</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">when the moutains shall drip wine</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">and all the hills shall wave with grain.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I will restore you....</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I will plant upon your land,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">and never again shall you be uprooted from it....</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
--Amos 9:13-15</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">From http://passovervillage.blogspot.com/.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27283368.post-16816716800683989492016-06-06T08:14:00.000-07:002016-06-06T08:14:13.145-07:00<div>
Dear Friends,</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>YOU</b> are invited to join us as we resume our monthly informal Study Group gatherings.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We will meet at a private home in Encino, not on Saturday but on <b>SUNDAY, JUNE 12th from 10 am to Noon</b>. RSVP by phone or email for exact location and directions.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>IF YOU CAN'T ATTEND IN PERSON</b> we invite you to join us via Skype. Send a message to me at <b>danbrumer</b> on Skype and we'll set it up.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As always, <b>VISIT</b> the blog to catch up on Marc's insightful notes from past study sessions. And <b>SUBSCRIBE</b> to the blog so you'll know when there's a new post: <a href="http://passovervillage.blogspot.com/">http://passovervillage.blogspot.com</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Looking forward to seeing you!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Dan</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<div>
C 310-396-0706</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">From http://passovervillage.blogspot.com/.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0