We’ve just met so it would be inappropriate for me to discuss politics with you. I think it would be silly, however, for me to pretend that there aren’t a lot of politics swirling around us. Plus, today is September 11th, which brings up moral outrage and political questions for most Americans.
Even before you could vote, each of you already mattered. (If you aren’t 18 yet, please know: No one will card you at a protest or when you call your elected representatives.) Now, here you are now, college students and voters. I have no idea what in particular each of you care about, how your politics animate you. What I do know is that – fighting for justice has been part of Jewish tradition since Abraham.
The Akeda(Genesis 22) – Hillel’s prayer book (machzor) provides the Creation story for our Torah reading today which would be a lovely, carefree way to enjoy the beginning of a new Jewish year, but Jewish guilt won’t let me let you do that. The second choice in our prayer book is the story of the Akeda. Jews all over the world are reading the Akeda – what Jews call “the binding of Isaac” – for Rosh HaShanah. Most of us dislike this text. It’s painful. It’s about suffering, questions, confusion, and terrible parenting. In a few minutes – I promise I’m not going to talk for very long now – we will read a horrible story. God commands Abraham to take his favorite son up to a hill, build a fire, and cut his throat (Gen 22:2).
Abraham stands over Isaac, knife in hand and is interrupted at the last moment by an Angel of God shouting his name – Abraham, Abraham!…Sacrifice this ram instead. (Gen 22:11-13) Phew. Isaac is saved from death. Abraham is saved from committing a heinous crime. God reassures Abraham – or maybe God is reassuring God’s own self – Abraham passed this test. Abraham is a real God-fearer (Gen 22:12). He was willing to kill his favorite son.
Do you think that Abraham should have rejected this command? Do you think that God should have apologized? Do you blame Isaac for never talking to his dad again? How could Abraham have known that this order was “true” or “real” or “holy”? Does this story make you hate Abraham – even just a little? [Are you distracted by the fact that he even had a favorite son?] I have a million of questions about this text for y’all, but I’m trying to just give one short sermon this morning.
Two Different Abrahams – Just 4 chapters ago in Genesis 18, Abraham heard God was going to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham confronts God fearlessly. Abraham condemns God’s plan as unjust. Abraham bravely bargains with God to save the lives of a group of people he doesn’t even know. Where was THAT guy on the morning God commanded Abraham to kill Isaac? Is there something that Abraham knew that WE can’t know that made it possible for him to follow this terrifying order? How can we listen and read critically? How can we evaluate what we hear and see? How can THAT guy from Genesis 18 be the same Abraham we encounter in Genesis 22 ready to murder his son?
*If the order of these texts were flipped, the narrative of Genesis could be teaching us how to become ever more thoughtful and brave in the face of injustice. However, at this point, the Torah is in the order it’s in. (This would be a useful moment to discuss the way Torah became what it is today, but I promised Jessica that services would end before lunch.)
I searched for answers, and, instead of hating Abraham and the Akeda story, I’ve decided that we get to learn this lesson anyway. It is better to stand up than to keep our head down and meekly follow rules. The Torah is telling us to evaluate what we hear and see – to stand against dangerous consequences. It’s about being true to ourselves – while trying to draw near to what we perceive as divine.
Hineni– So, it is each of our responsibility to stand up for whatever WE care about, whatever WE are passionate about. Stand up. Speak up. Embody OUR passions. Collect donations. Make phone calls. Join a campaign. Vote. Volunteer. Read articles critically and share the few that stand up to your criticism. Embody your concerns for the world. Be like the Abraham who doesn’t make us cringe. Be like the Abraham who protested injustice. (Gen 18:23-25) Follow the Abraham who focused on what was right for the most people, even the ones he didn’t know.
A lot of people – when they hear about how I observe Judaism, they say: “Well, obviously, that doesn’t count since you are a rabbi.” I don’t eat bacon. I don’t fly on Shabbat. I do a lot of things that people think of as “inconvenient” or “unrealistic.” But a lot of people think I do this because I am super into Judaism and because I’m a rabbi. The truth is: A lot of the super Jewy things I do, I started doing them by mistake.
Part One: Shabbat – I fell into my observance of Shabbat. When I lived in NYC, I noticed that my money kept disappearing. In an attempt to put a stop to the leak, I quit spending money on Shabbat. I figured – if I could take 25 hours off from spending money, then maybe I could better understand where my money was going. I thought it would force me to plan ahead and to use money more wisely. It did.
To be fair, New York City is alive, awake, and waiting to take your money every minute of every day. I rebelled against the financial expectations of the so-called real world. It’s true that this idea is particularly Jewish. I might have been influenced by the culture of rabbinic school at the time. I still don’t spend money on Shabbat – which means I don’t go to stores or restaurants. It means that I have to plan ahead and I have to get my fun for free. Eating lunch at Hillel is free, and lots of other amazing things are free. Parks are free. Making and eating meals with friends at home is free – if you shop before Shabbat. I consistently plan ahead for Shabbat. Then, whatever I don’t have on Friday afternoon, I just live without.
In this way, just like AJ Heschel promised, Shabbat has become a true island in time for me, an island that welcomes my friends and family. Shabbat has become a healthy break from the cycle of consumerism that occupies the rest of the week, a break in the 24-hour news cycle that raises my blood pressure Sunday through Thursday. [Also, I’m not a jerk about it. If I’m staying at someone else’s house over the weekend, I don’t impose my customs on them, but I do ask in advance what we can plan without inconveniencing them too much.]
Part Two: Kashrut – I backed into observing kashrut, Jewish dietary laws. At the beginning of my studies at Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion, I lived in Jerusalem for a year. I ate my last crab in Jerusalem, and it was delicious. I still remember it well. I didn’t decide then that was going to be my last bite of shellfish. (Lev 11:10-12) Rather, I realized at the end of the academic year, that I had been choosing not to order shellfish and not to mix meat and milk. At this point in 2018, my house is kosher. I have four sets of dishes and only kosher meat has entered the house. If I were actually planning my observance of kashrut, I would have planned it this way – that my kitchen is kosher so my friends from all Jewish denominations can come over to eat with me. Though I didn’t plan it – my kashrut and my values developed together in the same direction with a result that feels authentically Jewish and authentic to my values. At this point, kashrut has brought mindfulness and a sacred nuance to my eating habits that I never would have expected.
Part Three: Kippot – I stumbled into wearing a kippah. Actually, my kippah story is the worst example. In this case, REALLY don’t be like me. Once, a long time ago, after a break up, I cut off all my hair (as one does). I started teaching kindergarten shortly after that and I wore a kippah because it was an easy way to get my kindergarteners to think about the difference between prayer and other stuff like arts & crafts and singing, learning and playing. My hair grew out, and kippot started flopping around on my head. They wouldn’t stay still. So I quit wearing them. This floppy ritual practice wasn’t “speaking to me” so I quit.
Twenty years later our new president proposed a way to register Muslim citizens. In response, a lot of Jews ranted about the Holocaust. I ranted about the American internment of Japanese families in California, in 1942. Filled with both anger and hope, I promised my Muslim friends: “Don’t worry. Japanese Americans and Jewish Americans won’t let this happen to you.”
Around then, my friend David wrote an article in a Jewish paper about how he resolved not to be a member of an invisible minority anymore. He started wearing a kippah (yarmulke) every day. The same week his article was published, I was preparing to go to a conference in San Antonio. David and his mother Glenda suggested that I try wearing a kippah. (Basically, I started wearing a kippah because my friends did.)
I wore a kippah to the conference – it was a biblical studies conference, filled with mostly Christians, a few Jews, and even fewer Muslims. My kippah was an amazing conversation starter. Because of that kippah, I met incredible people, I had meaningful conversations. The author of a book I had read and loved introduced herself to me because of my kippah. And after that weekend, when I’m studying or when I’m praying, I wear a kippah. Wearing a kippah has elevated my learning and my prayer – in unexpected and wonderful ways – reminding me to stay connected to the Jewish tradition and to the Divine Source of All.
Part Five: Conclusion – Don’t be like me. Not only are my Jewish observances somewhat half-baked and backwards, they are also based mostly in habit and guilt and moral outrage. I fell into most of my Jewish observances. I stumbled into them without thinking much at all. You don’t have to be like me. You all have the choice to think critically about your Jewish observances. To be proactive, not reactive. A lot of rabbis would not tell you to experiment. They would tell you to learn and then do. But me, I’m the opposite – like it says in Exodus 24:7 נַעֲשֶׂ֥ה וְנִשְׁמָֽע׃ – Na’aseh v’nishma. We will do and then we will understand.
Like many, many aspects of Judaism there are multiple authentically Jewish ways to observe Shabbat, to eat mindfully, to be part of the Jewish community. Another day, I could give a whole sermon about how to make authentically Jewish decisions.But not tonight.Tonight, I’ll simply say this: Neither the Hebrew Bible nor the Jewish prayerbook stand alone. It is our responsibility to reach across space and time – to the Jews of the past, present, and future – to the Jews all over the globe.
To find out how to “do Jewish” in an authentic way, think about the Jews of the past, the Jews of the present, and the Jews of the future. Think about the commandments (Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5) and think about the traditions of Jews around the world. And then look at yourself. Be authentically Jewish AND be your authentic self.
I have only met a few of you so far, and we’ve only spent a short time together, but I already believe in you. You are here tonight, aren’t you? So, I believe in your ability to make conscious, thoughtful, Jewish choices. On behalf of the rabbis and educators, camp directors and cantors, Hillel staff members and Sunday School teachers who love you, THANK YOU for keeping Judaism and the Jewish community authentically Jewish while reflecting the images of all of you.
Note: No one is Objective. Nothing is Objective. Some journalists are better researchers than others. Some journalists include context better than others. In addition to grammar, I definitely seek out reliable research and context in my reading.
Many friends have asked me for recommendations of resources on current events affecting Israel, Israelis, Zionists, and anti-Zionists. (This post is not about books. That will be a separate post.) I’m sad I have to repeat this: Not all Arabs are Muslim. Not all Muslims are Arab. Not all Palestinians live in Gaza or the West Bank. Some Palestinians are Israeli citizens. Not all Israelis are Jewish. Not all Jewish Israelis are white. Not all Israelis agree with every policy of the Israeli government or the Israeli police force (even if one of my cousins is part of the Jerusalem police force). I can support Israel, call myself a Zionist, and still disagree with the Israeli government. I can love Israel and fear for Israelis’ safety, and still think critically about how the Israeli military and Israeli police forces protect themselves from terrorism. I can love Israel and my Israeli friends and family, and still care about people in Gaza and the West Bank. Also, Israeli is at war with Hamas. If you are surprised that I am posting this, please know – I don’t want to have to, but every once in a while, I am surprised and disappointed by how ignorant/naive/hateful/narrow some smart people are. (Sorry for the run-on sentence.)
I really believe in lifting up Arab-Israeli, Muslim-Israeli, and Palestinian-Israeli voices. I asked friends for more Palestinian Israelis to read/hear. My Israeli friend Or suggested I read more of Lucy Aharish and Suleiman Maswadeh. Also, Or and I love Renny Grinshpan who I mainly watched for comedy until she became an activist on October 7, 2023. Now, I love her even more. My Israeli friend/brother Niv recommends: Idan Nimsto on Insta and on Twitter/X. Idan Nimsto is probably for the young and young at heart, but this hip, musical Israeli (Lin-Manuel-Miranda-style) teacher made this FANTASTIC video – Give Palestine Back?– You don’t have to agree with it to learn from it.
Haaretz is a liberal Israeli paper which has always included journalists from the non-white and non-religious Jewish population of Israel. Yes, Haaretz costs money, but it’s worth it.
My parents strongly recommend the PBS News Hour on every topic for every American. If you can’t be home at the right time to sit still for live news, you can follow them on social media. That’s a fun mash up of traditional news and “new media.” On Instagram and Threads, they are @newshour. On Instagram, you can also get direct reports from the IDF.
I like + 972 Magazine – I don’t agree with everything they say, even though I’m pretty liberal. I think a lot of Americans like it for their authentically Israeli criticism of Israel’s government.
I also like The Times of Israel. My smart, logical professor Dr. Steven Windmueller contributes to that paper frequently. He loves context and history and research. If you are an American Jew who is wrapped up in American politics and concern for Israel/Israelis, he’s a great person for you to read.
I love the emails from the New Israel Fund. You don’t have to donate money to get their emails, but you might want to. I also like the UnXeptable website for updates and press releases. [UnXeptable started as a grassroots protest movement against the Israeli government, but turned into a grassroots community support org on October 7, 2023. Thanks to my activist sister-from-another-mister Hadar Peled for the connection to UnXeptable way back when it was the Kaplan Street protest movement.] I have heard that “mainstream media” organizations don’t address the situation of the hostages in Gaza regularly, so I recommend visiting the Bring Them Home website and/or Instagram account to find out more – even when there isn’t big news.
For very personal takes on current events, I strongly recommend both Parents Circleand Combatants for Peace. I love these organizations who emphasize working together. These aren’t either Israeli or Palestinian. Both of these organizations lift up voices from all sides of the story. Find them both on all the socials. Please share their stories. They are working towards PEACE FOR EVERYONE EVERYWHERE. Please help them get the attention they deserve for doing the challenging work of building real relationships across borders. [Again, we don’t have to agree with their every word to celebrate their values.]
Friends & Neighbors: Many of you are probably wondering why I didn’t recommend the New York Times. I like a lot of stuff about the NYT. Their games are awesome. I love the magazine and the book review section. I really like Emily Bazelon and Tressie McMillian Cottom. Also, I don’t think the New York Times is reliable on deeply controversial issues like Israel. I’m not the only one to recognize that the New York Times is not as open to the wider world context as people say/expect. For example, here is the full letter that over 180 of the NYT’s own contributers signed and sent about the paper’s on-going biased reporting on transgender life in America. By all means, read the NYT – as long as you read it with your critical thinking skills turned up to 11. There is no perfect newspaper, of course. So, please don’t let the NYT be your only or even main source for news on Israel. NPR and the New York Times don’t always present all sides of the story – partially because the story is over 2,000 years old. Partially because there are more than two sides to this story. See above!
I admit that I’m not super loyal in the way I consume news. In the course of any given week, I’ve probably read articles in all of the news outlets I listed above plus a couple extra ones local to the story I’m chasing. Additionally, for world news, I like The Guardian. Paying for The Guardian is definitely worth it. (I get most of my Ukraine news there, for example.) I don’t read the same papers every day which is why I try to tell my friends to send me articles they really love or hate too. Hint. Hint.
Thank you for listening. Feedback welcome.
May peace prevail on earth – for my people, for your people, for all the people everywhere.
I realized by reading and teaching a gardening curriculum for HeadStart that 1. While the curriculum does acknowledge that gardening might be completely new to students, 2. It does not acknowledge that many adults also have no experience with gardening. How can someone teach gardening when it’s completely new to them?
My lesson plans/curricula are not better than anyone else’s. Mine are different because (1) I’m trying to start before even the first step; and (2) I put my contact info below so I can actually work with you! If you are near Austin, Texas, I can even come work in your garden and/or your classroom.
I aim to be a support to anyone teaching gardening – any teacher who is rushed and busy, anyone who is new to gardening, anyone who is new to teaching gardening.
Please let me help your school, your class, and your teachers teach and enjoy gardening. My website is free, of course. If you want/can, I will let you pay me to come help with your lessons – from planning to execution. [Yes, I often volunteer, but I also need to get paid sometimes. To invite me to come help your school, please email me with GARDEN in the subject heading and include your school’s info as well as your own contact info. rabbilippe@gmail.com]
LESSON PLANNING
Here are some sampleGoals, Objectives, Vocabulary Words, and other info to mix and match for your lesson plans. Please pick the ones most suitable for your work.
Sample Goals – The leaders of this lesson/course/curriculum aim to: Introduce basic values of gardening; Introduce students to the origins of our foods – especially fruits and vegetables, but also grains; Introduce the phrase “busy as a bee;” Introduce the life cycle of a tomato or another vegetable (or fruit or flower); Provide opportunities for students to watch a seed grow into a seedling (and hopefully into a plant); Provide opportunities for students to harvest something they helped grow; Explain what wildlife contributes to the garden – including but not limited to butterflies, caterpillars, bees, birds, dragonflies, and more.
Sample Objectives – By the end of this lesson/course/curriculum, participants will be able to: Identify the roots of a plant. Describe what the roots of a plant do; Identify three contributions gardening offers to the earth; Identify the life cycle of a tomato; Identify the life cycle of a butterfly; Taste something straight from the garden; Taste a new vegetable; Identify five vegetables; Describe at least one pollinator; Explain the phrase “busy as a bee.” Identify a bee; Describe how a seed becomes a plant; Identify a worm and what worms eat and excrete; Describe the difference between sun and shade and more.
Many Humans Garden to: connect with the earth; connect with their foods; avoid buying vegetables and fruits that come wrapped in plastics and/or travel many miles; homegrown foods taste better; save money. Additionally, many organizations find that both physical and mental health can be improved by gardening – especially because planting seeds and watching them grow increases our investment in the future and builds our hope and resilience.
Integration with other Skills/Curriculum
In order to garden, you WILL use math and science.
Related Topics: math & measurement; time, schedules, calendars; patience; teamwork; the scientific method; scientific inquiry; and more. Remember: it goes both ways! Once you start gardening, you can always use examples from gardening in other lessons.
Also, all gardens and gardeners include some death and dying. Some plants are annuals so they will absolutely die at the end of their year. My gardening teacher told me – if you have never killed a plant, you’re not really a gardener. I have observed that gardeners of all ages learn to handle death and dying in the garden with perspective. Adding dead plants to your compost* pile is a way of giving them a “new life.” Be Prepared to talk about death and dying – especially with younger students who are associative thinkers and don’t really filter their thoughts/reactions. They might bring up other deaths or their questions about what happens during or after death.
My Basics: (A)When you are growing something in a pot, the pot requires drainage. If it doesn’t have holes in the bottom for drainage, do not put a plant in it. (B) Feeding the soil sounds weird, but soil needs organic material to grow healthy plants. The easiest way to do gardening is to always buy compost.* If you are trying to grow most vegetables and most flowers, you need compost.* [There are different kinds of soil. Potting soil doesn’t contain much nutrition. If you use potting soil outside, it usually gets washed away in the rain or even when you water. Garden soil is heavy and isn’t great for draining. Using old compost is not advisable unless you can mix some fertilizer or something rich into it. Throw that old compost into the compost heap for later] (C) Don’t forget! It is easier to learn and remember what feels interesting and relevant.Everyone eats. Everyone needs to eat. Therefore, growing food is naturally relevant and interesting to human beings. (D) The plants and gardens surrounding us become more interesting and more relevant as soon as a person begins experiencing even a tiny garden, even just one plant! (E) MULCH – Mulch protects plants from heat in the summer and cold in the winter. Mulch helps plants conserve water. You can buy mulch at the store, but sometimes I just use recycled cardboard to cover my empty garden in the summer. (F) Some will tell you that expert advice is not important. Sometimes plants can beat the odds. Once, I grew a few peas in the hot Texas summer. However, relying on the wisdom of gardening experts is valuable. I use these two websites the most: Gardeners World and The Spruce! (G) Ask for help from local gardeners! In Austin, we depend on: https://travis-tx.tamu.edu/about-2/horticulture/get-expert-gardening-advice/ They offer advice and consultation as well as some fantastic, invaluable resources that tell us the best times to plant each vegetable, flower, herb, and more! So much gratitude for them!
Options for inviting family participation: eggshells, banana peels, & coffee grounds.
In case you couldn’t already tell, I am dedicated to organic gardening. I don’t use pesticides, and I don’t feed my garden inorganic materials. Here are some organic ways to feed your soil for free!
Eggshells – Eggshells are organic material that are good for our soil. When I crack eggs for cooking, I rinse the shells and collect them in a metal pan. Then, after I’ve used the oven, I put the tray of collected egg shells back into the oven while it is cooling. They don’t have to be cooked or brown. They just cannot be raw. [Seriously, don’t cook them on a high heat because it makes your whole house stink.] I collect the dried eggshells in an old rice container. Then, I crush them. [Be careful – they can be sharp – please warn your students.] Your students’ families are probably just throwing those eggshells out. They might be willing to collect these for your gardening project. It takes a little bit of time but it doesn’t cost any money. When I see signs of slugs or snails, I spread crushed eggshells on the top of the soil. When I am planting a new plant, I often sprinkle some dried eggshells in the bottom of the hole. It provides drainage! You can always crush these and throw them right into your compost* pile. They do not rot down but they help air circulate which helps your compost develop.
Banana Peels! I don’t know why, but banana peels are really good for our soil. If you bury a banana peel in your soil, it will feed your soil and eventually your plants. When we had bananas for snack or for breakfast in class, I would give the kids an old yogurt container to collect the peels. Then, we would either put them under one of our trees or bury them in our garden bed. I often wished we had our own compost* pile because you can’t use a ton all at once in a little garden – unless you are starting from scratch and you have a ton of compost to layer on top. Again, people at home throw those banana peels out. They are free because people think of them as garbage. There are probably a few families who will remember to bring you their banana peels and/or they might even use them in a plant at home! Either way – your lesson is amplified! [I do not suggest laying banana peels on top of the soil because some critter will come grab it and probably hang out to dig around and eat your tomatoes and carrots.]
Coffee Grounds are another household material that really helps in the garden. Most of your students’ families are probably not reusing their coffee grounds in their gardens/plants or compost heaps. Encourage them to use them at home and/or donate them to your garden. It costs a little bit of time but no money! Note: Worms love coffee grounds, and lots of students love worms. Gardens and compost heaps need worms to help with air circulation and to process the soil.
*ScratchmadeCompost – If you want to make your own compost, there are tons of free resources online. Put your old soil and dead leaves/plants in there. You can even add lawn trimmings. I add trimmings from veggies and fruits. (If you work at a school, I bet you have tons of leftover fruits and vegetables! Bury these in your compost heap with old dirt/soil.) No dairy or meat or fish. No cooked food with seasoning and oils. *The goal is to balance green and brown stuff. [Bonus: adding dead plants to your compost* pile is a way of giving them a “new life,” BUT if they died of a disease, throw those in your city compost. You don’t want disease in your homemade compost.] Note: Not all schools are going to be open to letting you start a compost heap on their grounds. Seriously, I worked at a school where they wouldn’t allow me to use the recycling bin.
Some of my favorite GARDENING BOOKS for students
ABCs of Gardening, by Dylanna Press; ISBN – 9781647902575 – For students ages 2 and up. ABCs of Gardening
ABC Bug Book for Kids, by Jessica Lee Anderson; Rockridge Press, Oakland, CA, 2022; ISBN – 978-1-63878-066-3 – For students ages 3 and up.
Lola Plants a Garden, by Anna McQuinn; Illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw; Charlesbridge, Watertown, MA, 2014. ISBN – 978-1-58089-695-5 – For any age.
The Tiny Seed, by Eric Carle; Little Simon, New York, 1987. ISBN – 978-1-4169-7917-3 – For students ages 5 and up.
9/26/14 – On Rosh HaShanah, in our prayer book (machzor), I recognized a piece that I remember word-for-word from my childhood. In fifth grade, I started attending Jewish summer camp. In our daily prayers, we read this responsively:
When will redemption come?
When we master the violence that fills our world.
When we look upon others as we would have them look upon us.
When we grant to every person the rights we claim for ourselves.
(Gates of Prayer, 1978, page 103)
First, I felt a rush of joy at seeing and hearing these words again. Usually, I would prefer to skip most of the English prayers, preferring the Hebrew. However, these few lines brought back the hopeful feelings of sitting in the outdoor chapel at the top of the hill, overlooking the ocean at Gindling Hilltop Camp.
Next, I felt a rush of sadness. Since before 1978, many American Jews have been praying this prayer. And yet, these words fit right in with the complicated current events of 2014.
I also feel sadness for Israel and the Jews. Since June, I have constantly been ‘the native informant’ the representative of Jews in two different Christian communities. Most non-Jewish people don’t talk to me about Israel, and every day I think about what I want to say about Israel in this or that conversation. My heart is broken that many people see Israel as a violent bully in the Middle East. I wish this text could be woven into others’ perceptions of the Jewish people and the only Jewish State.
If you hate Israel, if you are anti-Zionist, if you hate Jews, please simply block this website. I don’t want to argue with anyone now. I am sad and miserable. I feel sick and heart-broken. Please don’t try to explain war or colonialism to me. If you have some empathy, please try to be a helper. Thank you. With prayers for peace for all, Susan
Each class will feature text study with some great Jewish teachers and conversations with some of Kavod’s most extraordinary Mitzvah Heroes. We want to share great Jewish values and great Jewish teachers. We look forward to learning and celebrating with you!
October 15: Torah study with Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback and our mentor and teacher Danny Siegel, and a discussion with Rabbi Susan E. Lippe and Kris Wade of The Other Ones Foundation, doing extraordinary work with unhoused people in Austin, TX.
October 22: Torah study with Rabbi Jacqueline Ellenson, and a discussion with Rabbi Jay Moses and Dr. Beth Weinstock of BirdieLight, working to save the lives of young people with education and action around the dangers of Fentanyl, the #1 cause of death among 18-45 year-olds in the US.
October 29: Torah study with Rabbi David Ellenson and Rabbi Sydney Mintz, and a discussion with Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback and Jonathan Ornstein, CEO of JCC KRAKOW, on the frontlines of work and rescue of Ukrainian refugees.
I hope you can join us for these 3 opportunities for learning and inspiration about the art and skill of Tzedakah [just giving] and Tikkun Olam [repairing what is broken in our world].
What is the Kavod Tzedakah Collective? 30 years ago, a group of rabbinical students in Jerusalem established the KAVOD Tzedakah Fund with the intention of seeking out, supporting, and promoting individuals and organizations that do the work of justice, caring, and peacemaking.
This was the brainchild of my friend R. Yoshi Zweiback who named our group KAVOD, since human dignity is the common denominator of all our projects and donations.
Three decades later, the Kavod Tzedakah Fund has distributed over $1.7 million in the United States, Israel, Ukraine, and around the world. We continue to be dedicated to the art of grassroots, no-overhead giving.
Special thanks to R. Neal Gold and A Tree with Roots for hosting our classes online!
To learn more about Kavod’s work, please check out the most recent Annual Report here. There is no cost for these events, and we encourage participants to make a contribution of any amount (nothing too big or small) to our Kavod Tzedakah Fund at www.kavod.org.
I’m getting ready to teach some cool Jews at Limmud how to crochet kippot (yarmulkes, skullcaps). I put the info here for the participants to find after Shabbat. xo
Here is my crochet advice so far:
I taught myself to crochet because I wanted to make kippot. It took me YEARS to make something someone could wear, much less recognize, as an actual kippah. My first piece of advice is Be Patient.
In lots of cases, learners start small – a lighter racket, a shorter shovel or hockey stick, a smaller spoon or rolling pin. In crochet, start bigger. It will be easier to see what you are doing. Practice with bigger hooks and thicker yarn. As you get more confident and as your stitches become more even and consistent, that’s when to try something smaller. I recommend starting with hooks in sizes I, J, or K. An I hook = 9 = 5.25mm, a J = 10 = 6.00mm, and a K = 10 1/2 = 6.50mm. The sizes differ in different countries, I think.
To get ready for making kippot, the main stitches you need to learn are the chain stitch and single crochet.
Relax and Practice. Even, consistent stitches only come with time, practice, and patience.
Always use a Stitch Saver. It’s so sad when a project unravels in your bag.
Please do not buy new plastic yarn. Finding great cotton yarn and bamboo yarn is easy. Some people prefer to upcycle yarn. Some people unravel something they find in their closet or in a thrift store and reuse the yarn. So easy and cheap. It’s unnecessary to add more plastic into the world. You can also buy recycled yarn at places like this and this. However, for beginners, I would stick with something simple and smooth.
On new yarn, the label will tell you what size hook to use. You can always go bigger.
Find an independent, locally-owned yarn store in your neighborhood, town, city, region. The community that grows around a yarn store knows everything – every yarn, every vendor, every trick, every fix. They will probably be focused on knitting, but you can always find cool, wise, generous crochet experts among the knitting chauvinists. [Knitting in the round does not make a great kippah anyway.] #crochetersunite
Don’t be intimidated by really tiny stitches on really tight kippot. Those are either made by very experienced experts or machines.
It’s okay if your kippah doesn’t look perfectly round! When you are finished with the project, wash it gently in cold water. Next, lay it on a towel or a rack to shape it. Then, let it air dry in the shape you chose. Note also: the more a kippah is on someone’s head (and in their pocket), the more kippah-shaped it will become.
When you increase stitches for a kippah, do not increase in a regular manner. If you increase every two or three stitches in a pattern, you will end up making a gorgeous geometric shape that is not a circle. Eyeball it. You’ll see where you need to add to keep the shape. Be patient, and Practice.
I learned how to crochet with yarn from Joann – called Sugar ‘n Cream. It’s cheaper cotton yarns for beginners so you can afford to make all the mistakes you need to. [Also, even when you become more experienced, I like to buy my yarns in person – to see and feel them.]
Closure – Do not cut your ends too short when you are “done.” Cut looooong ends so that you can sew them back in and then rely upon the yarn to stay. I sew in my yarns in a zig zag or a circle to keep them reliable. This applies to the first string when you begin as well. Long ends make for secure sewing.
Normally, people stitch into the V of the row before. When you feel more comfortable/confident, try stitching only into the “front V” or the “back V.” You can make designs by choosing one or the other.
If you want to practice crocheting in the round without constantly starting over, try making a hat! I have made many winter hats at music festivals and in front of the tv, just to practice crocheting around and around – getting my stitches even. Plus, you can give those away. Oh – except! – when I make a hat, I match the ends of each circle and then move up. When I make a kippah, it’s a spiral.
If you use Instagram (or any of those picture sharing apps), follow the hashtag #crochet! I get tons of inspiration from these photos. Plus, it’s a very cool way to see ideas, stitches, and color combinations from around the world. For example, this is my brilliant cousin at@tarlovart. Yes, I’m super jealous of the ease with which she quickly taught herself crochet, but also PROUD AND IMPRESSED. [Hi, Hannah!] Note: Hannah recommends using lighter colors when you are a beginner – easier to see clearly.
Sometimes I edge the kippah with a chain stitch instead of the same stitch I’ve been using in order to make it easier for the clip to stay closed.
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY – I learned to crochet from books. I know a ton of people learn from videos, but I get car sick. Some people learn better from videos, photographs, diagrams, drawings, or patterns. Embrace your learning style! I strongly recommend checking these out at your local library!
Eckman, Edie. The Crochet Answer Book. North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing, 2005.
Hubert, Margaret. The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet. Minneapolis, MN: Creative Publishing International, 2010.
Righetti, Maggie. Crocheting in Plain English. New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press, 1988.
Stitchionary 4: The Ultimate Stitch Dictionary from the Editors of Vogue Knitting Magazine. Vol. Volume Four: Crochet. New York, NY: Sixth & Spring Books, 2007.
Not really a book review because I have zero complaints. I love this book so much! I know you probably didn’t come here for a book review or advertisement. However, this book is so good that I can’t help sharing.
Kobabe, Maia. Gender Queer: A Memoir. Colors by Maia Kobabe. Edited by Andrea Colvin. Portland, OR: Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group, LLC, 2019. Sensitivity Read by Melanie Gillman. Assistant Editor: Grace Bornhoft.
Note for Parents/Guardians: I don’t know what age is the right age for this book. I do know that some adults I love will worry about when their kids are ready for this book. Kobabe does cover masturbation, pornography, and a very disturbing gynecological appointment. So, I guess, adults – you read it first and decide.
I was reading an article about book banning, and saw the photo of this book’s cover. I immediately bought it. I’ve done this before. If it’s good but not great, I’ve read the book and passed it on. BUT THIS BOOK IS SO SO GOOD.
I don’t really want to show you tons of photos of this graphic novel because I want you to check it out or buy it! The art of the book feels like the heart of the book. I feel more comfortable sharing some quotes that really demonstrate how brilliant and meaningful this book is.
One of my favorite pages is the very last page. It’s a beautiful drawing of the author’s family which also includes a short dedication. It says: ” A note to my parents: Though I have struggled with being your daughter, I am so, so glad that I am your child.” (Kobabe, 240) To me, this comment is so deeply beautiful and revealing. This beautiful dedication not only encapsulates the author’s love and gratitude for eir* parents, but also demonstrates how EASY it can be sometimes to find the right gender-free word. See pages 189 for some pronoun stuff and pages 171-175, 206-209. Actually, on page 175 is one of my favorite hilarious quotes: “Because really, I want people to be confused about my gender at all times.” (Kobabe, 175)
I sent a couple friends this text: The people who banned this book think it’s about gender, and it’s mostly about books and reading. That’s probably why they banned it. They hate reading (and critical thinking). My brilliant friend Jessica texted back: People who ban books like this one are afraid that books can turn people gay, but books about straight people haven’t turned gay kids straight. I was hoping that maybe it would turn people who read this book into better readers! (See pages 28, 72-75, 143) I sent her the book in the mail with the note: BUT WILL IT HELP PEOPLE CHOOSE BETTER TV? (Mostly because of page 116 #Supernatural and page 151 #BuffytheVampireSlayer)
I also want to tell you about one of my favorite pages, a page that felt like it was made for me. On page 178, Kobabe writes: “I remember when I first realized I never had to have children. It was like walking out of a narrow alley into a wide open field. I never have to get married….These realizations were like gifts that I gave to myself.” [My father says that, when I was in fifth grade, I told him I never wanted to have kids. I think he thinks it’s interesting that I never changed my mind.]
I like buying banned books, and I really like requesting and checking out banned books from the public library! I strongly recommend you request and check out your favorite books from the library – not because you need them, but because it’s good for the library to know what books you think are important.
You can also read this book for free here. [DO NOT READ THE COMMENTS!]
*So, Kobabe chooses “the Spivak pronouns e, em, eir, as in ‘Ask em what e wants in eir tea.'” (Kobabe, 189) For more, I found this interesting: https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Spivak_pronoun
I received the best gift ever. The Raynors gave me the opportunity to help them give away $100,000 . WHAT A GREAT GIFT! They helped me research the organizations, and they have helped me learn from this wonderful project of two years.
I promise to write more info here but I really wanted to share it just in case anyone is looking around. Tzedakah means “righteous giving.” Not all of these organizations are Jewish. I guess you could also use the word philanthropy? I’m just not into the word “charity” because that sounds very optional, it comes from the heart. Jewish people like me are commanded to donate to righteous causes and organizations – to help repair what is broken in the world. Tikkun Olam and Tzedakah are not optional.
Note: These are all well reviewed organizations and vetted either by me or by the staff at Once Upon a Time or both. You can trust these folks!
The Pad Project – India Project (based in LA, CA) – https://thepadproject.org/ – “The Pad Project’s mission is to create and cultivate local and global partnerships to end period stigma and to empower women and all menstruators worldwide. A period should end a sentence, not a girl’s education.®“
Learning the Hard Way 