Rabbinic Perspectives: Conversations for Our TimeS
Rabbi Robert Levy
Emeritus Temple Beth Emeth, Ann Arbor MI; Chair, Rabbis and Cantors Retirement Plan; Faculty, École Rabbinique de Paris
This session in our new series will explore the issues surrounding the core accepted value of Pesach: the prohibition against consuming foods and drinks produced through leavening. These consumables are often synonymous with bread products but also include beer. The common element is yeast, which God does not appreciate as we humans do.
The core text for our discussion will be Exodus 12. Rashi calls Exodus 12 the Jewish starting point for the Torah, with the Book of Genesis and Exodus 1-11 being, in a sense, a prologue. Yet both Genesis and Exodus describe a universe radically different (and two steps removed) from the worldview of (1) classical rabbinic Judaism and (2) the modern world as we understand it.
God does hate yeast, but the real question is: What is the nature of the world that God loves as described in the Torah?
Please register to receive the Zoom link to join us online. Barring technical issues, this program will be added to our Recording Archive.
Rabbi Robert Levy is a New Yorker by birth and upbringing, a Midwesterner by career and a Washingtonian in retirement. He presently stays active through service to the American rabbinic and cantorial communities managing a nonprofit clergy retirement plan and teaching practical rabbinics to rabbinic students and managing the cycling program and serving on faculty at a World Union for Progressive Judaism summer camp.