A crane, Joni Mitchell, a well of water, and a talking donkey: Building the future we want to see

A Crane, Joni Mitchell, a Well of Water, and a Talking Donkey: Building the Future We Want to See
Rabbi Sari Laufer

June 30, 2023 | 11 Tamuz, 5783

Due to calendrical quirks, at this time of year, Jews in different parts of the world read different Torah portions. There is some consistency between groups that share geography and denomination, and last week, we at Stephen Wise Temple read a portion at the intersection of Parashat Hukkat and Parashat Balach. Rabbi Sari Laufer has a special affinity for Hukkat, which she read at her bat mitzvah. This double portion of love and loss, of grief and mourning, is rich with imagery and meaning, including a talking donkey. Interestingly, the pairing of Hukkat and Balach is seen only in the Diaspora, not Israel. Why is this? Rabbi Sari digs in, starting with a well of water and the death of Miriam.

Watch this week’s video and all Shabbat sermons HERE.