Illuminated by Torah

Newsletter May 29, 2023 Together, we're #keepingitsacred...

Rabbi Yohanan was known to have a glow about him-- from Torah. The Babylonian Talmud Bearchot 20a tells us that he was so radiant that his appearance before pregnant women would yield beautiful offspring. Berachot 5 described the light from his arm as filling the entire house.

Jewish tradition teaches us that Torah scholars are vessels for the pure light of Torah. Receiving revelation is measured in illumination.

And even though we studied through the darkest hours of the night on Shavuot, wow were we enlightened! By the text. By the way the truth was refracted through the lens of our own life experiences. And by the bonds of human connection.

As we studied, over the course of 10 hours, all 6 chapters of Mishnah Pirkei Avot, with friends on 6 continents tuning in across 6 time zones, we came to these shining distillations of our ethical truths--

"Strive to teach and to learn. Be earnest, be humble, be patient when teaching and learning. Keep an open heart and mind. Forgive mistakes, including your own."

"Take every opportunity to be kind to everyone you meet, and help whenever you can. Always be hungry for knowledge, learn something everyday -- no one knows everything."

"Surround yourself with tenderhearted people. Be open to miracles. Be curious about what truly has value. And keep your compass by being clear about who you are accountable to. Make good deeds a habit."

The texts we studied were 1800 years old. Yet, they pierced our hearts with their timeless truths. Words to live by. Words to make a life of meaning by. To fill our lives with light and to pass it down the chain of tradition.

Every time we study Torah together, we are given the opportunity to unlock the lucent essence of our tradition. Every time we share it, we keep it moving through the chain of generations. This is how we are keeping it sacred. Join us by participating in our programs highlighted below.

Together, we’re #keepingitsacred…. 

Rabbi Heather Miller

Founder, Keeping It Sacred

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The above is an excerpt from a Keeping It Sacred newsletter. If you want to read the entire newsletter or any from our archives, please head over to: keepingitsacred.com/news 

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Thanks for your interest, and thanks for #keepingitsacred...