Beis Lakish Elul 5785 Newsletter
As the High Holidays approach, we’re entering 5786 flanked by multiple genocides and fascism’s grip tightening around the globe. What does t’shuva1 look like when the harms that I am complicit in as an American are on such an unfathomable scale? What does t’shuva look like when so much of that harm is done against the peoples’ will? How can we transform t’shuva into direct action, and direct action into t’shuva?
As is so often the case, these questions have no easy answers, and mostly just bring about more questions. I find myself relying on gratitude, when I can muster it, for my community & for my ancestors, who push us to keep dreaming of a liberated world.
May 5786 bring unfathomable miracles, deep repair, and a free Palestine.
Below is some information about what’s coming up in our Beit Midrash2.
Upcoming Online Classes
Embodying the Alef Bet: Learn to read & decode the Hebrew alphabet with Beis Lakish on Zoom! Mondays, October 6th - November 10th 7-8:30pm ET / 4-5:30 PT
Register here!
Upcoming In-person Classes
I’ll be offering a light-touch text study on Yom Kippur with Ratzon: Center for Healing and Resistance in between Y”K3 services. Open to all, no prior experience or prep needed. To get more information on timing and location, sign up for Ratzon’s newsletter or follow them on instagram.
With Love and Solidarity,
Ren Finkel, Rosh Yeshiva
P.S. If you ever have a question, class pitch, idea, etc. don’t hesitate to reach out to Ren at ren@beislakish.com <3
Definitions
T’shuva / תְּשׁוּבָה: From the root ש-ו-ב meaning, “to go or come back, to return, to repent.” (Jastrow pg. 1528) T’shuva as a noun means “Return [to God], repent, reply, answer.” (Jastrow pg. 1703) In contemporary lefty, Jewish spaces it is used to mean repair, accountability, etc.
Beit Midrash / בֵּית מִדְרָשׁ: Literally meaning “House of Study”, this phrase is often used to refer to any location where study (especially Torah study) takes place. Beit / בֵּית means “house” (Jastrow pg. 167) and Midrash / מִדְרָשׁ means “textual interpretation, study” (Jastrow pg. 735), from the root ד-ר-ש meaning “to question or examine” (Jastrow pg. 325).
Y”K: An abbreviation for Yom Kippur.