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Passover is coming
Earlier this week, we celebrated the holiday of Purim. Purim is fun, lighthearted, and lacks seriousness. Purim is a day of fun, joy, and feasting. A holiday for sending gifts to one another, and our Rabbis have even declared that we are kind of obligated to become somewhat inebriated on this day, where we can’t tell the differences between the bad guy Haman and the blessed Mordechai. Behavior that is not tolerated all year long is encouraged on Purim.
However, this week’s Torah Portion Ki Tisa has a different mood, sober and somber themes where the Israelites commit the gravest sin of idolatry.
It begins with the obligation incumbent upon everyone, rich and poor, to donate a half-shekel for the maintenance of the sanctuary. In today’s modern times, we would call this the first-ever building fund.
Boker tov and Shavua tov! We are in the Jewish month of Adar, a time of exuberant joy and celebration. Adar is the month of Purim, a holiday during which we dress up in costumes and commemorate the miraculous salvation of the Jewish people from a decree of destruction.
According to Jewish tradition, the month of Adar offers us a unique opportunity to tap into the Divine energy of joy and laughter. As the Talmud teaches, when Adar enters, we increase our joy (Ta'anit, 29a). Kabbalistic teachings view joy as a potent force that uplifts and transforms our souls. By experiencing joy, we establish a deeper connection with the Divine, enabling our spiritual growth and development.
Folsom Prison Blues additional lyrics by Keb Mo & testing out a Mojotone pickup on my Iris guitar