From the Rabbi:
"A Jewish wit informs us that any Jewish holiday can be summed up in nine words: "They tried to destroy us; We Won; Let's eat!" It works with most holidays: Passover, Hanukkah, and Purim etc. However, it doesn't apply to Shavuot, the Festival of Weeks which marks 50 days after Passover.
Shavuot was originally one of the three great agrarian pilgrimage festivals. Jews from all around the Mediterranean would come to Jerusalem and give thanks for the first fruits of spring. There they would offer up their sacrifices and pray for continued health and prosperity for the land.
When the community became urban, Shavuot was transformed into the anniversary of the giving of the Torah. Just as rain nourished the land making life abundant, so too the Torah was the Mayim Hayim, the very water of life, nourishing the soul and bringing blessings to the people. While Passover celebrates the "escape from" oppression, Shavuot celebrates the "escape to" freedom, self-determination and divine values.
On Tuesday evening everyone will each receive a copy of the Book of Ruth complete with commentary. (Yes, you may keep it.) We will review the highlights of this unique text which celebrates the wisdom, daring and strength of women. Then we shall discuss a two-page essay by Judith Plascow, "Attending Again at Sinai, Judaism from a Feminist Perspective."
Following our one hour study we will hold a Yizkor Memorial Service.
A paragraph from Judith Plascow's essay:
"The ways in which male God-language continues to legitimate male authority are difficult to demonstrate, for this language has become so familiar, it is simply taken for granted. Since we "know" that male language is generic, and we subject God-language to many layers of translation, it is difficult to imagine that the literal level of images has any effect. As Mary Daly argued years ago, however, the symbol of the father God-or the godfather as she calls him-is rendered plausible by patriarchy and, in turn, authorized male-dominated social structures by making women's oppression appear right and fitting.""
Snacks (milchik) are welcome!
