Breathing into the RubbleJuly 2, 2021by Laynie Soloman*This piece and the Torah behind it has been informed by almost a decade of friendship, chevruta-ship, and learning from…
Between the SunsJune 25, 2021by Hayley GoldsteinIt seems that no matter what time the sun sets on Friday evening, there is never enough time. It’s a…
Toward a Co-Created Liberatory Jewish FutureJune 18, 2021by Ayana Morse“When we honor our commitment to each other then our communities will flourish with rain at its proper time, grain,…
CRASH HOTSAnd Then They’ll Just Call It JudaismJune 11, 2021by Benay LappeMany years ago, my brother Murray gave me a beautiful pewter paperweight with the words “What would you attempt to…
Blessing This MomentJune 4, 2021by Julie BatzOne of the most powerful moments in a SVARA Bet Midrash happens at the first session of class, just as…
A Letter to Our StudentsMay 28, 2021by Benay LappeA Note from Team SVARA: The past few weeks have been fraught and tumultuous–in the world, and in the Jewish…
The Rest of the BlessingMay 21, 2021by Mónica GomeryLast week, Elaina bookended her Hot Off the Shtender with the blessing for the study of Torah, la’asok b’divrei Torah,…
Nurturing Our Dedications Into BeingMay 14, 2021by Elaina Marshalekבָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה׳ אֱלהֵינוּ מֶלֶך הָעולָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָנוּ בְּמִצְותָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לַעֲסוק בְּדִבְרֵי תורָה Blessed are you G!d, our G!d, Melekh…
Finding Our TruthsMay 7, 2021by Jhos Singer(I am dedicating this learning to my teachers, friends, and supporters: Rabbi Benay Lappe, and Bonnie Kahn Martin—may their legacies…
CRASH HOTSA Third Torah from Sinai: Revising Our Myth for a New Jewish EraApril 30, 2021by Benay LappeAt the beginning of his book A Brief History of Time, Stephen Hawking shares the well-known story of the old…
Making Sh*t Up: On Learning as a Radical ActApril 23, 2021by Bronwen MullinIf you had told me growing up that to study Talmud was a radical act, I would have told you,…
Dedicating Our Learning to a New MalkhutApril 16, 2021by Laynie SolomanOur sages teach us that we should say 100 different blessings each day (1). This invitation reminds us to drop…