Hot Off the Shtender

Hot Off the Shtender is a weekly blog that explores texts and reflections from the bet midrash. Lovingly referred to as “HOTS,” this is a SVARA resource you won’t want to miss.

A single yellow leaf floats just below the surface of a body of water. The water is deep blue, and there are faint ripples visible surrounding the leaf.

Reenvisioning Tashlich (With Some Help From the Temple)

October 21, 2022

by Jess Belasco

One of the great gifts of facilitating the Disability Justice Torah Circle (DJTC) over the past ten months has been…

On Visiting the White House

October 7, 2022

by Benay Lappe

As I scanned down through my inbox a few weeks ago and saw “The White House” in bold letters, I…

A group of SVARA-niks gather in the darkness around the dim light of a fire. One person's face is illuminated by a flashlight. They look to the right towards someone speaking. The shadows of the folks sitting are cast on the wall behind them.

The Very Jewish Holiness of Crying in Public

September 23, 2022

by Elliot Kukla

“Rabbi, I’m so glad you are here,” said the woman at the hospital room door, “Tell my nephews that their…

SVARA-niks are seated in the bet midrash together. Folks are sitting at tables full of texts and learning resources. The walls are blue and the image focuses on two chevrutas sitting across from one another. They are both smiling and looking towards someone outside of the frame.

Chevruta Outside the Bet Midrash

September 16, 2022

by Ayana Morse

I’ve always been drawn to the practice of workshopping ideas. There’s something so energizing about the back and forth of…

A group of SVARA-niks are seated outside, learning Talmud together. It is a sunny day and green trees surround the folks learning.

Holy Mirrors

September 9, 2022

by Jhos Singer

I went on a whirlwind road trip recently to Los Angeles. Long story abbreviated: 50 years ago, in a universe…

A fairy stands beside a SVARA learner in the bet midrash. They are both looking at a page of Talmud together.

Drama in the Bet Hamikdash: The Little-Known Yom Kippur Weepfest

September 2, 2022

by Elaina Marshalek

Now that our holy and reflective month of Elul has begun, I have my sights set on Yom Kippur: the…

Three people stand in a circle to welcome in havdalah. They are smiling and singing together, and a havdalah candle burns towards the center of the image.

Blessed Motion

August 26, 2022

by Mónica Gomery

A few weeks ago, as the sun set and the stars appeared in the darkening sky, I headed out to…

Two people embrace one another in a large open field. It is a sunny day and large green trees stretch out behind them. The face of one person is visible, and they are smiling as their arms wrap around the shoulders of the other person.

A Force for Deep Connection

August 19, 2022

by Becky Silverstein

A few months ago, we added reciting the Shema to our toddler’s bedtime routine. Edie had experienced a language explosion…

Four people are gathered around a table in the bet midrash. Two of them are seated in chevruta and two are standing next to them. Everyone is focused on the text in front of them, and it appears that there is deliberation and deep attention being paid to the text.

CRASH HOTS

When a Text Needs to Crash

August 12, 2022

by Laynie Soloman

Content warning: this piece mentions a Talmudic text that deals with the theme of sexual violence. One morning during the…

Two chevrutas hold hands across the table in the bet midrash. The person on the left has brown hair and is wearing a mustard yellow sweater. The person on the right has blonde hair and is wearing a white long-sleeved shirt. They smile tenderly at each other.

A Strange Dance With Mourning

August 5, 2022

by Bronwen Mullin

This Saturday night, Jews around the world will observe the holiday of Tisha B’Av, which is a strange holiday for…

Two people share a glance in the bet midrash. The person on the left is seated, and the person on the right is standing and wearing fairy wings. The two seem to be in cheerful conversation together.

Honoring the Pain We Carry

July 29, 2022

by Jhos Singer

They say that aging is not for the faint of heart, and I can attest to that. With 63 in-the-body…

A group of people sit around a table in the bet midrash. Folks appear to be clapping up a person in the middle of the frame, who smiles and glances down at the volume of Talmud in front of them. Everyone is smiling and glancing towards the person in the center.

The Fullness of Every Word

July 22, 2022

by Elaina Marshalek

If you’ve ever learned with SVARA, you’ve learned that each and every word we stumble upon deserves a close, loving,…