Finding Home (Again)

I’m back in New York

Which is kind of depressing.
I wish I wasn’t…
But I’m kind of stressing.
 
People dress too nice.
They make fun of my hair.
And when I wear my Moshiach flag
Well… people stare.
 
People here don’t know me.
Like my Pardes friends do.
They just see my kepah.
And say, “Hey, look! a Jew!”
 
I feel so small in Gallut.
I don’t want to stay.
I went off the derech!
And got pulled over today.
 
I said “Officer, I’m famous.”
He said, “I don’t know who you are.”
“Anti-semite” I responded.
“I’m a &*#%$!@ youtube star.”
 
He cuffed me
And I yelled, “Hey, man let go!”
“You have no control!
The Pisetzner says so.”
 
“Who?” he asked.
“Um… uh… he’s my… attorney.”
He responded, “This sounds like a crazy…
Jewish journey.”
 
“I myself am Jewish.
And I am going to choose
To let you off
Because I look out for fellow Jews.”
 
And at that the sky opened.
And angels started singing.
I heard a beautiful sound.
That turned out to be my cell phone ringing.
 
It was my good friend calling.
He said, “Wanna meet up for a drink?”
And I realized life is good here too…
I’m happy! I think…
 
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Lost in the Rhythm

 
I came to Israel – to the Pardes Institute for Jewish Studies – 10 months ago, so that I could study and become familiar with Jewish text. I wanted very much to live a ‘Jewish life.’ I just didn’t know what that entailed or meant.
 
Judaism, for me, has been like a dance. It wasn’t so much fun when I didn’t know the steps. There was very little spiritual fulfillment. It was frustrating and confusing.
 
But as I started to learn the steps I started to lose myself in the rhythm. The movements took on meaning. And that has led to very special experiences and insights. 
 
Part of this learning process is and has been happening through Torah study, in many of its very different permutations, at Pardes.  
 
Chumash class, of course. Talmud, of course. But there’s also Self, Soul, and Text. And Modern Jewish Thought. And Jewish Meditation. And the Social Justice track. The Peace and Conflict class. 
 
The other part of this discovery is happening through thinking hard and honestly about Continue reading
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