Ki Teitzei
It is Friday, the 8th of Elul, 5780. I’ve been listening to near-daily (I’ve slacked off a few times) shofar blasts through zoom. I also davened shacharit once this week.
Ki Teitzei has so many things in it.
Respect for the dead even when they died of capital punishment (which i am entirely opposed to, to be clear). But if someone did something Very Bad they are still a person, and death rituals are at least in part for the remaining surviving community and an important symbol of wholeness of the community: when you die, no matter who you are, your body should be treated respectfully.
That one tiny piece about wearing the “wrong” gender’s clothing has spawned so much hate and I don’t want to talk about it.
poop outside the camp. good general advice.
the vast majority of the rules in this are built for a social context entirely removed from mine.
I have the kernel of an essay building about how Jewish texts and liturgy use violent language, and how we do and don’t engage with that, and wrestling with how my reactions differ when it’s against oppressor mitzrayim (see: song of the sea) vs when it’s against bystander amalekites (see: this parsha) or amalekites as oppressor (see: purim).
We’re a little light on the links this time but I do have a request, a store, and a pet.
The request: please do not go to in-person high holy days services indoors. A recent review looked into the evidence behind different ways we can help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The authors produced this graphic, showcasing the ways singing can make virus transmission more likely, even if everyone is wearing masks. I make this request because I’m worried about you, all of you. We got through Pesach at home with zoom seders; we can get through Rosh Hashana at home with zoom services.
The store: Tienda Chulito is a Black queer Jew’s jewelery-making business, including judaica. My current favorite is this pink pomegranate hamsa. I love how the stone beads hanging from the thumb/pinky fingers of the hamsa look like pomegranate arils.
The Jewish Pet of the Week this week is @SobaFett’s Hazel. What a cutie! If you have a pet you want featured, please let me know, as this finishes up my pet photo backlog and I’m going to have to start asking people again.
