HeyJaredJewish 24-7
An experientially based, politically conscious approach to Jewish living, this blog examines the interaction between individual Jews' (and Jewishly-oriented spiritual seekers') journeys and our collective experience as am yisrael / the people of Israel.
- Indexed issues, last 90 days
- 13
- Latest publication
- Sep 30, 2026
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- Earliest in this view
- Jul 15, 2026
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Listening Post (opens the original)
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Six years, the Torah states, is the term limit of bondage for an Israelite. What about one who became comfortable and complacent under the master’s yoke and prefers to remain enslaved? That person’s ear will be nailed to a doorpost, and he or she will become an eved olam: consigned to perpetual servitude1. The humiliation and subjugation send an unequivocal message: Choose freedom.But liberty of the wrong kind has the power to subjugate. During a recent Torah study session, my student and friend
Yom Kippur Afterthoughts (opens the original)
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Utter quiet descended upon Zikhron Yaakov as the sun set at the start of Yom Kippur on Sunday night. Throughout the day that followed, there was virtually no car traffic in town. The Torah refers, redundantly, to that day as a shabbat shabbaton / Sabbath of Sabbath observance1; in other words, ultra-Shabbat: peace and quiet.Shabbat, Judaism’s most important and frequent (i.e., weekly) holiday, encourages rest, relaxation, absence of productive labor, and avoidance of mechanized activity. Even ma
Doing Our Part (opens the original)
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Opposing impulses are driving Jewish public and private life in this tense historical moment. We agonize over divisions roiling politics and threatening to tear apart kelal yisrael / Jewish social unity in Israel and the Diaspora and between them. Relations within families, among friends, at synagogues, and in government are wrought up, emotions on edge.At the same time… Despite intensifying conflict, a sense of shared destiny remains strong as advocates for reconciliation search for common grou
Tightrope (opens the original)
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A memorable saying attributed to Rabbi Nachman of Bratzlav (1772-1810): “The whole world is a very narrow bridge. The main thing is not to be afraid at all.” Famous words reportedly spoken by another Hasidic master, Rabbi Simcha Bunem of Peshischa (1765-1827), can help elucidate the point.He “was known for carrying a slip of paper in each pocket. On the first he wrote, ‘For my sake the world was created,’ while the other read, ‘I am but dust and ashes.’1”The two messages complement each other
Of Green Cheese and Genocide (opens the original)
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Some falsehoods are innocently foolish, others foolishly fatal. Not recognizing the difference - mistaking one for the other - can have deadly consequences. For instance, humoring childish souls who think the moon is made of green cheese won’t hurt anybody, but brushing aside political extremists who think Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians will - and does.Enablers of such violence certainly include Israel’s “critics” who say they hold nothing against us yet believe the genocide
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