Hineni

Episode 69: Minutes of Torah Devarim, Final Words, Tisha B'Av and Lamenting

  On this Shabbat, we enter into the last book of the Torah. We begin the book of Devarim also known as the Deuteronomy.  In Hebrew, Devarim means words and this book consists almost entirely of the final words of Moses, it is his farewell address to the Israelites. Oddly, this is the man who once tried to turn down the job on the grounds that he was not “a man of words.” As we begin Devarim the Israelites are standing on the bank of the Jordan River, poised to cross over and enter, fina...

Episode 68: Minutes of Torah: Naso, Forgiveness and Restitution

Episode 67: Minutes of Torah. Kedoshim: We Are Holy Beings

Episode 66: Minutes of Torah: It's Passover Y'all! Time to Clean

Episode 65: Minutes of Torah. Pekudei: Be Strong

The Cloud is a guiding force for the Israelites and for all of us 

Episode 64: Minutes of Torah. Yitro: Revelation

Episode 63: Hineni (Here I Am) - Minutes of Torah: A Hanukkah Story

Episode 62: Hineni (Here I Am): My Authentic Identity

On November 1, 2018 I gave a talk on Authentic Identities at Elon University, where I serve as the Campus Rabbi. The talk was shortly after the horrible events in Kentucky and Pittsburgh. I shared my story and journey of becoming a Jew and a rabbi. I talked about the racism I face in the Jewish community, antisemitism and our current political rhetoric. I hope you enjoy this special episode. 

Episode 61: Minutes of Torah - Vayishlach: A Wrestling Match

Episode 60: Minutes of Torah - Toledot - Rosh Hodesh - Rebecca Cried Out to God and God Responded

In honor of Rosh Hodesh. I am dedicating this week's Minutes of Torah to all the women who have felt silenced 

Episode 59: Jewish Prayer - Asher Yatzer - Thank you God for Making Me Exactly Who I Am

Welcome to Episode 59 of Hineni Jewish Prayer. Today we will focus on the prayer that is often called the bathroom blessing. Thanking God for allowing one to do their business in the morning. I don't see this blessing as simple a bathroom blessing. I see it as a blessing thanking God for creating me exactly who I am

Episode 58: Minutes of Torah - Chayei Sarah: Building a World of Love After a Week of Violence

Welcome to this episode of Minutes of Torah. This past week has been hard for many of us and I am dedicating this podcast to speak about the violence in our country. Olam Hesed Yibaneh -We will build this world of love

Episode 57: Minutes of Torah - Vayeira: Faith and Justice

This week we are in the Torah Portion Vayeira. My plan for today was to continue our conversation on faith but something jumped out at me as I was reading this week’s torah portion. So today we will talk about faith and Justice.

Episode 56: Minutes of Torah - Lech Lecha: Going Out on Faith

This week we have another story about going out on faith. This week we read Torah portion Lech Lecha which means to Go forth or let’s Go.

Episode 55: Minutes of Torah: Noah and Faith

This week we enter into the Torah Portion Noach where God tells Noah to build an enormous Ark. God instructs Noah to build this Ark because God is going to destroy the world with a massive flood. Now keep in mind that Noah probably lives nowhere near water and I’m sure he thought “This is a Crazy idea!” but on faith and faith alone Noah builds the Ark as God has instructed him to do so.  So, What is Faith?

Episode 54: Minutes of Torah - Bereishit: Created in the Image of God

This week’s torah portion is all about creation; creation of the world and all things that dwell on the earth. We learn that Human beings are created B'tzelem Elohim, in the image of God.

Episode 53: MInutes of Torah - Balak: Blessing the Stranger

In this week’s Torah portion Balak.  Fear of the other is alive and well. The text opens with a fearful king dreading the arrival of the Israelites to his land of Moab. He tells the elders in Number 22:4 what he believes about the Israelites he says “Now this horde will lick clean all that is about us as an ox licks up the grass field”

Episode 52: Minutes of Torah-Chukat: Asylum Seekers

One of the things that I love about the weekly  Torah portion is that so often when I need a passage to speak to me about what is happening in our world today the words are there on the page and they jump out out at me.  This week we are in the Torah portion Chukat. 

Episode 51: The Omer and Me.

Every Spring we begin counting the Omer on the second night of Passover. What is an Omer? The Omer is a sheaf or a measure of barley or wheat. The Omer is also the name for the 7 week period of time between Passover and and the holiday of Shavuot. On Passover we celebrate our freedom from slavery and bondage and on Shavuot we celebrate receiving the Torah on Mount Sinai as free people. In ancient times, the Omer period was significant agriculturally as it marked the period of time between pl...

Episode 50 Jewish Prayer Elohai Neshama God Don't Make Junk

Episode 50 Jewish Prayer Elohai Nehsama God Don't Make Junk

Episode 49: Minutes of Torah - Passover A Time of Our Freedom

This coming shabbat is the start of passover we also call this holiday zman cherutainu - זְמָן חֵרוּתֵנוּ - a time of our freedom.

Episode 48: Minutes of Torah - Tzav and Giving Thanks

This week week we are in the the Torah portion Tzav. And I want to talk about giving thanks. In this week’s torah portion We learn that one who offers a korban aka sacrifice for the purpose of giving thanks must eat that korban on the day when it is offered and none of it shall be set aside until morning.

Episode 47: Minutes of Torah - Vayikra: The Calling

What is your purpose in life? Are you called to something?

Episode 46: Minutes of Torah - Mikeitz and Hanukkah

My thoughts on the Torah portion Mikeitz and Hanukkah

Episode 45: Minutes of Torah - Vayeishev: Dare to Be Different

Joseph is someone who dared to be different and he dared to dream big. In what ways are you like Joseph.

Episode 44: Minutes of Torah - Vayetze: God is In This Place

We are often reminded of the awesomeness of God in the spectacular moments in our lives and those are moments when we may find ourselves especially open to a connection with God But it's also possible to experience God's presence in the mundane everyday moments of our lives. And then like Jacob we can exclaim "God is in this place"

Episode 43: Minutes of Torah - Toldot Never Seek Your Sibling’s Blessing

There is a lot happening in this week’s Torah Portion. Do you have a sibling? Are you rivals? Check out this week’s podcast.

Episode 42: Minutes of Torah Vayeira and Hospitality

Let’s talk about what it means to be a good host. In this week’s podcast, we have two examples of hospitality, one good and one gone mad.

Episode 41: Minutes of Torah: Was Noah a Righteous Dude?

Was Noah a Righteous Dude?

Episode 40: My Sukkot Message for 2017

I’ve spent quite a bit of time thinking about the kind of Jewish community that I want to help build and be a part of, not just as a Rabbi but as a member of the community. It’s important for me as a rabbinical student and future Rabbi to find ways to connect with as many Jews as possible.

Episode 39 Oseh Shalom a Prayer for Peace

"A universal truth in Christianity, Judaism and Islam is the idea of treating others the way we want to be treated. Or Love your neighbor as yourself. This is often referred to the Golden rule. " if you enjoyed this episode, checkout my show notes and more at https://www.sandrajlawson.com/jewish-prayer/39

Episode 38: Days of Awe

Episode 38: Days of Awe by Sandra Lawson

Episode 37: Minutes of Torah -Nitzavim -Vayeilech. We Stand Before You and Choose Life

I'm really excited about this podcast. I've made some changes and I hope you like them. We are entering the holiest time of the year beginning with the Jewish New Year Rosh Hashanah. This week’s Torah portion is a double portion Nitzavim - Vayeilech. We have come to the last day of Moses' life and he has gathered all of Israel, one final pep talk. Moses tells them that if they observe the commandments, great things will happen to them but if they don't and they get to the other side and decid...

Episode 36: Waking up with gratitude -The Jewish Prayer Modah Ani

This is our first episode on Jewish Prayer. Let’s Talk about Modah Ani or if you identify as male it’s Modeh Ani I really am a morning and it’s so important to start your day off with gratitidude. Modeh/Modah Ani: מודה אני לפניך מלך חי וקים שהחזרת בי נשמתי בחמלה, רבה אמונתך. Modeh/Modah ani lifanecha ruach chai v’kayam shehechezarta bi nishmahti b’chemlah, rabah emunatecha. I offer thanks to You, God, for You have restored my soul within me; You God are awesome. Modeh/Modah is said immediatel...

Episode 35: The Times are a Changing

In this episode I'm discussing future changes for the podcast

Episode 34: Minutes of Torah -Ki Tavo - Remember Where You Came From

Episode 34: Minutes of Torah -Ki Tavo - Remember Where You Came From by Sandra Lawson

Episode 33: Minutes of Torah Ki Teitzei - Be Mindful of Our Behavior

Episode 33: Minutes of Torah Ki Teitzei - Be Mindful of Our Behavior by Sandra Lawson

Episode 32: Minutes of Torah - Shoftim - Justice Justice You Shall Pursue

This week's Torah portion urges us repeatedly to pursue justice. The Torah uses the phrase “Tzedek tzedek tirdof” צֶדֶק צֶדֶק, תִּרְדֹּף (“Justice, justice, you shall pursue”) The verb tirdof is in the imperative, commanding us to engage in the work at hand. It teaches us to pursue the goal of Justice through means that are just and teaches us: Justice for ourselves and justice for the other.

Episode 31: Minutes of Torah Re'eh Choose Your Path

We are human beings with free will and we get to choose the right and just path. The right path is to follow God and strive to always do what is right.

Episode 30: Matot-Massei - Cities of Refuge

This is the last Torah Portion from the book of numbers. The Israelites are so close to the promised land but before they can enter the promised land God tells Moses that they must create cities of refuge. Today we might call them Sanctuary cities. Today when we are talking about Sanctuary cities we are talking about protecting undocumented immigrants in the United States. The Torah Laws related to the cities of refuge are unique. The Torah says that when a person accidentally kills another p...

Episode 29: Balak - Ma Tovu a Curse Becomes a blessing

Ma tovu….How great are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel! These words are the opening lines of a prayer that many Jews say when entering a synagogue. These words appear in this week’s Torah Portion in Number 24:5. Where Balaam is sent to curse the Israelites. But instead, Balaam is overcome the awe and awesomeness of God and the Israelites' places of worship. Rashi says that Balaam is overcome by the modesty that the Israelites maintained while traveling in the desert. So ev...

Episode 28: Chukat, Grief and Loss

In this week’s Torah portion we learn that Miriam dies She is the sibling of Aaron and Moses. A funny thing happens when Miriam dies; all of a sudden the Israelites are without water. Rabbis of our tradition have long connected Miriam with the water that the Israelites drank and without the water Israelites are in a panic and worried they are going to die of thirst. So Moses prays to God. God tells Moses to assemble the Israelites and go find a rock and order the rock to yield water. God prom...

Episode 27: Korach - Jealousy is Destructive

Korah's Rebellion: He was Jealous and paid the ultimate price with his life

Episode 26: Shelach Lecha and Courage

The lesson that we learn from this week’s Torah portion is simple. If you think you can you will and if you think you can’t then you won’t. It’s all about attitude. In this week’s Torah portion, Moses chooses twelve men to go to the Promised Land to see whether it is conquerable and inhabitable. Ten of the men come back saying that it’s not possible to conquer the land because they perceive that giants live there. Two of the men, Joshua and Caleb, come back saying, “We can do it”. They are re...

Episode 25: Behaalot'cha and Gratitude

Always be grateful and thankful for what you have and not the things you think you want. And you can never move forward in life if you are always looking at the past.

Episode 24: Bemidbar - The Wilderness

This week we enter into the book of Numbers

Episode 23: Behar-Bechukotai - You Shall Proclaim Freedom

In this week's Torah portion, Behar - Bechukotai (Leviticus 25:1-27:34)God tells Moses to speak to the Israelites and say to them when you enter the land that I assign to you the land shall observe a sabbath. God says that the Israelites can work the land for six years but on the seventh year the land gets a Shabbat of complete rest. The Torah goes further: not only is every seventh year meant to be a shmita aka a sabbatical year but after seven-time seven years the 50th year "Jubilee," and t...

Episode 22: Emor - Be Kind

This week's Torah portion is Emor (Leviticus 21:1–24:23)and the Torah is reminding us to be kind. "And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap all the way to the edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I the LORD am your God." Remember we are created in the image of God. We are not strangers we are all related.

Episode 21: Acharei -Kedoshim - Let’s talk about Love

Let’s talk about Love This week’s torah portion Acharei Mot Kedoshim. Is about love. And it contains what we often call the holiness code. A blueprint for how we as a people living in a society should strive to behave. The opening words are: And the Lord spoke to Moses saying, speak to the people of Israel, and say to them: You shall be holy; for I the Lord your God am holy. Then God explains how people can be holy. God teaches us to Judge others fairly, to not hate our neighbors in our heart...

Episode 20: Tazria-Metzora - The Importance of Health to Maintain our Closeness with God

This week’s Torah Portion is a double portion Tazria-Metzora and it is portion we love to hate because it’s all about skin diseases, bodily emissions, and other health conditions. These physical conditions make a person temporarily unfit to be close to God. Question: What are some ways that you restore yourself when you feel sick, not whole or not close to God?