Joseph is a popular biblical character to “queer” — because rabbinic midrash claims he curls his hair, paints his eyes, and is as beautiful as his mother, Rachel (Genesis Rabbah 24), and also because he is one of the rare biblical men known for not sleeping with a woman (the lovely wife of Potiphar, who [...]
At the beginning of this week’s portion, Vayehi, we encounter Jacob on his deathbed:
Jacob lived seventeen years in the land of Egypt, so that the span of Jacob’s life came to one hundred and forty-seven years. And when the time approached for Israel to die, he summoned his son Joseph and said to [...]
In Parshat Vayechi, Jacob is on his deathbed, imparting his final words of wisdom and blessing to his sons. He first calls Joseph in alone, and implores his son to bury him in Israel, in the Cave of Machpelah, where his ancestors are buried. After begging Joseph to bury him, Jacob tells Joseph that [...]
**New SVARA Queer Bet Midrash Retreat Course**
January 19, 20, 21
The Graduate Theological Union
Berkeley, California
Tikkun Olam, “Repairing the World,” has become the mantra of liberal Judaism. Yet the term never appears in the Torah, and meant something altogether different when it was first introduced two thousand years ago. Who came up with it? And why? What [...]
Editor’s note: Welcome to our newest contributor, Rabbi Brant Rosen, who serves as the Rabbi of Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation (JRC) in Evanston IL and writes his own blog, Shalom Rav.
“Simeon and Levi are brothers/Their weapons are tools of lawlessness/Let not my person be included in their council/Let not my being be counted in their assembly.” [...]