Author Archives: Penina

Pre-Purim Shabbat Morning and Potluck Lunch March 19, 2016

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Join Ruach HaYam on March 19, 2016, for a queer Saturday morning Shabbat service followed by potluck lunch and learn on Esther. Arrive at 9:30am to schmooze and help set up. Service will begin at 10am.

We will hold services at Congregation Eitz Chayim, 136 Magazine Street, Cambridge, MA.   Please RSVP here and let us know if you would like to read from the Torah, give a dvar on Parashat Vayikra, or bring in your own comments on Esther to study over lunch,

For the potluck please bring veggie/dairy food. We will not be heating food. Pre-packaged food should be hechshered.

Although Ruach HaYam speaks with a queer Jewish voice, we welcome persons of all gender and faith identities. We worship without a mechitza, and with acoustic music only. We have our own siddur. Our services and study sessions are warm, meaningful, collaborative, lead to deepening of friendships, and are simply fabulous.

Please share event widely!

Rebecca, Isaac, Jacob and Esau: A Queer Look at Family, Love, Jealousy and Gender in the Hebrew Bible (February 25, 2016)

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Ruach HaYam Workshop at Congregation Eitz Chayim, Cambridge, MA
Join us for an interactive study of Rebecca, Isaac, Jacob and Esau. Study will be led by Penina Weinberg. 6:45 pm for schmooze. Bring veggie snacks if you wish.
Study will begin promptly at 7:15pm.
Congregation Eitz Chayim 136 Magazine Street, Cambridge, MA
February 25, 2016
RSVP here
 

We’ll do a close reading of the story of Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob and Esau. We’ll follow through on what we learned from Song of Songs 8:6

For love is as strong as death [“The love which Isaac bore to Esau” –from Song of Songs Rabbah]

Jealousy as harsh as Sheol [“The Jealousy which Esau bore against Jacob” –from Song of Songs Rabbah]We will study the way in which Rebecca may be seen to inherit the mantles of both Abraham and Sarah, and to occupy a gender space both male and female. We will consider whether Jacob can be read as transgender and/or as a person whose true voice is never heard.

Penina Weinberg has been teaching Hebrew Bible for over 10 years and is determined for people to claim and own the text for themselves. She holds a Masters Degree in Jewish Studies from Hebrew College. 

And the Fire Flashed all Around: Introduction to Song of Songs (January 28, 2016)

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Ruach HaYam Workshop at Congregation Eitz Chayim, Cambridge, MA
Join us for an interactive text study of the Song of Songs. Study will be led by Penina Weinberg. 6:45 pm for shmooze. Bring veggie snacks if you wish.
Study will begin promptly at 7:15pm.
Congregation Eitz Chayim 136 Magazine Street, Cambridge, MA
January 28, 2016
RSVP here
 
“And the fire flashed all around.”
>> What does flashing fire have to do with Song of Songs? <<
 
“I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.”
>> How did this sensual love poem find its way into the Hebrew Bible? <<
 
“For love is fierce as death…a blazing flame”
>> On a cold winter’s night, you do not want to miss this opportunity to ignite the fires of your souls with Song of Songs. <<
Join us as we discover Song of Songs through text study, discussion, pictures, and music. Like Ben Azzai, we will link up the words of the Torah with the Writings, until the fire flashes all around. Sunglasses are recommended. Knowledge of Hebrew and prior text study experience are not required.
Penina Weinberg has been teaching Hebrew Bible for over 10 years and is determined for people to claim and own the text for themselves. She holds a Masters Degree in Jewish Studies from Hebrew College. 

THE SOUL OF DAVID (December 17 2015)

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Ruach HaYam workshop at Congregation Eitz Chayim

Join Ruach HaYam for an interactive text study of the soul of David. Study will be led by Penina Weinberg on December 17, 2015 at Congregation Eitz Chayim, 136 Magazine Street, Cambridge, MA. Join us at 6:45 pm for shmooze. Bring veggie snacks if you wish. Study will begin promptly at 7:15pm.    Parking is allowed within a three block radius on event nights.

According to the Book of Samuel, “The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” (1 Sam 18:1). Our study will ask the question, who did David love and what was the nature of that love? We will study David’s speech upon the death of Jonathan (2 Samuel Chapter 2) along side David’s speech upon the death of his first son by Bathsheba (2 Samuel Chapter 12). We will consider the love which Michal expressed for David (1 Samuel Chapter 18) and, time permitting, the relationship between David and Bathsheba.
 Study is geared for learners at all levels. You will be guided through a careful look at many Hebrew words but neither a knowledge of Hebrew nor prior text study experience is required.

Penina Weinberg has been teaching Hebrew Bible for over 10 years and is determined for people to claim and own the text for themselves. She holds a Masters Degree in Jewish Studies from Hebrew College. 

MOTHERHOOD, MANHOOD AND WAR: A QUEER LOOK AT GENDER AND POWER IN THE SONG OF DEBORAH (November 12, 2015)

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Ruach HaYam Workshop at Congregation Eitz Chayim, Cambridge, MA

A close reading of Deborah, Jael, Sisera’s mother, Sisera, and Barak to see what we can learn about stereotypical gender roles, non-normative gender roles, and how power is wielded. We also consider the nature of war.

READING DEBORAH, JAEL AND SISERA’S MOTHER (JUDGES 4-5). A QUEER CONVERSATION ABOUT WOMAN (August 2015)

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Nehirim Women’s Retreat – Workshop

Here we are at a Women’s retreat. What does that word mean to us? Did we come because it is a woman’s retreat, or despite the label? Does the tag, name, identity, of woman sit comfortably with us, uncomfortably, indifferently, fluidly, or perhaps not at all? We will jump start a conversation about identity with a study of three interrelated, but quite different, women in the Bible. Deborah the judge and warrior, Jael the dangerous hostess, and Sisera’s mom, who glorifies war and is a tragic figure. Only Deborah is an Israelite. All are found in Judges 4 and 5. Come for a text study and a conversation about gender identity.

Ruach HaYam Shabbat Retreat October 17, 2015

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Ruach HaYam invites you to a full day Shabbat retreat
for LGBTQ Jews and friends and family in Cambridge, MA
Our theme for this year is “Full Spectrum Judaism: the Gift of the Rainbow”

Micrography used by permission. For more information visit artist Rae Antonoff at www.RaeAnDesigns.com or https://www.facebook.com/RaeAnDesigns

Micrography “Parashat Noach” used by permission. Visit artist Rae Antonoff at www.RaeAnDesigns.com or https://www.facebook.com/RaeAnDesigns

Refresh your spirit and make new friends in this fabulous day of egalitarian davening, creative and thoughtful workshops,
and delicious kosher food!

Ruach HaYam, in partnership with Congregation Am Tikva, and with the co-sponsorship of Congregation Eitz Chayim and Keshet, is presenting our third annual full day Shabbat retreat for LGBTQ Jews and friends and family.

October 17, 2015, from 9:30am to 7:30pm at Congregation Eitz Chayim, 136 Magazine Street, Cambridge, MA 02139

We also invite you to join Congregation Eitz Chayim for Kabbalat Shabbat services on Friday, October 16, 2015.

PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED
REGISTER  HERE

View comments from previous Retreats here!

Ruach HaYam Ruach HaYam welcomes queer Jews, friends, allies, family, and interfaith connections to our events. We organize short and all day Shabbat events, as well as queer Jewish text studies in the Boston area through out the year.  We worship without a mechitza, with acoustic music only, and with our own siddur. Services are warm, meaningful, collaborative, lead to deepening of friendships, and are simply fabulous. Full day Shabbat retreats include scholarly and experiential workshops and plenty of time to schmooze.

Please join our EVENT on facebook and/or become a member of Ruach HaYam FB GROUP or Meetup GROUP to stay in touch throughout the year.

 

Schedule for October 17, 2015
(see below for faculty and leader biographies)

Services

9:30 am to Noon – Led by members of Congregation Am Tikva.  Siddur for Shabbat morning prepared by Marvin Kabakoff and Penina Weinberg.

Lunch 

Noon to 1:30 pm

Workshops

1:45 to 3:00 – Penina Weinberg. Full Spectrum Judaism: The Gift of the Rainbow.  What actually is the gift of the Rainbow?  We’ll look at Parashat Noach and selected other texts and see if we can determine what the gift might be.  Interactive discussion for all levels of text learners.

3:15 to 3:45 – Mimi Yasgur. Time for a 7th inning stretch! Loosen those muscles and take a moment… We’ll do some simple stretching and breathing, and we’ll get your circulation flowing for the next activity!

4:00 to 5:15 – Rachie Lewis. The Flood, Climate Change and Questioning Authority.  Challenging our institutions has been a common thread throughout the Jewish textual tradition. In this session we will look at the implications of our weekly parsha on the current problem of climate change and seek guidance from our text in how we challenge the current systems standing in the way of progress

Closing

5:30 to 7:00 – Meal/ Melave Malka,
7:00 Havdalah and Closing Circle – Jeremy Sher

Retreat Director
Penina WeinbergIMG_4002 is an independent biblical scholar who is President Emerita of Congregation Eitz Chayim in Cambridge, MA. and the founder of Ruach HaYam.  Her studying and teaching focus a queer lens on issues of gender, power, and identity in the Hebrew Bible. Penina teaches in Boston area synagogues, and has led many workshops for Nehirim and Keshet.  This is her third year as Ruach HaYam retreat director.
Partner
Congregation Am Tikva, since 1976,Am Tikva Black2 has been providing a safe and welcoming space for GLBT Jews in the Boston area to pray together and to socialize. It created its own gender-neutral prayerbooks and customs for Friday evening services, the high holidays, and special events, such as the Erev Pride Liberation Seder. Am Tikva is a mixture of genders and sexualities who come from a variety of Jewish backgrounds. The services reflect that variety. Am Tikva offers two Friday evening services a month, one more contemporary and one more traditional, as well as High Holiday services and celebrations of other queer and Jewish holidays.
Faculty and Leaders
Marvin Kabakoff graduated from BrandeisMarvin Kabakoff and received a Ph.D. in history from Washington University-St. Louis.  He is recently retired as an archivist with the National Archives and Records Administration at their regional facility in Waltham, and is an adjunct in the Simmons Library School.  Marvin attended a community Hebrew school and Hebrew High School in New Haven, and has been a long-time service leader at Am Tikva.

 

Rachie Lewis has lived in Boston for 4 yearsRachie and works with local synagogues on social justice issues. In her spare time, she loves learning and travels between different progressive and traditional communities to meet all of her social and spiritual needs, but hopes that some day, those needs will be met in one place!

 

Jeremy Sher  is a student for rabbinic ordination of Rabbi Natan Margalit.  He is a Master of Divinity candidate at Harvard Divinity School, where he was honored with the Ministry Fellowship, as well as the Frederick Sheldon Traveling Fellowship for a year of research in Israel, which he just completed.  Author of the upcoming new book A Jewish Approach to Nonprofit Governance (Chaim Mazo Publishers), Jeremy has served on eight boards and in numerous other volunteer roles over 20 years of service.  He lives in Cambridge and is a certified mediator, MBTA busker, and avid cyclist. See his website, ThisIsJudaism.net

 

Mimi Yasgur, M.A., is an expressive arts therapistMimi water and  mental health counselor. She is the Senior Services Clinician and group therapist at the New England Center for Homeless Veterans. She enjoys integrating her passions for art, Judaism, and spirituality to create vibrant community.

 

Ruach HaYam Spring Shabbat Morning Service and Potluck

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Join Ruach HaYam for a queer Saturday morning Shabbat service and potluck lunch.
Saturday, April 18  at 9:30am
Congregation Eitz Chayim, 136 Magazine Street, Cambridge, MA.

Celebrate the coming of Spring and study parashat Shimini.

For the potluck bring cold veggie/dairy food. If brought in a package, food must be hechshered. Please register and let us know what you will be bringing. If you would like to read from the Torah let us know also. Sign up on facebook and leave a comment, or reply to this post.

We will have a text study over lunch – brought to us by Dev Singer over at Nice Jewish Queer Folk, http://www.meetup.com/Nice-Jewish-Queer-Folk/

THE CREATION OF GENDER.
Genesis 1:27 reads “God created the adam in God’s image; in the image of God [God] created him — male and female [God] created them.” What does this verse mean? How were the genders brought into existence according to the Tanakh? This text study will explore how rabbis explain this through the generations.

Jeroboam and the loss of inheritance [nachalah]

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In our class on Kings, we often read that such and such a king was as evil as Jeroboam son of Nebat, and/or will suffer his fate.   For example, after King Ahab’s wife Jezebel has Naboth killed, and Ahab takes possession of Naboth’s vineyard, the prophet Elijah says to Ahab:

Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will utterly sweep thee away, and will cut off from Ahab every manchild, and him that is shut up and him that is left at large in Israel. And I will make thy house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasa the son of Ahijah, for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked Me, and hast made Israel to sin. [I Kgs 21:21-22].

In seeking to understand exactly what Jeroboam did that was so nefarious, one class member suggested that it might be related to the way in which King Ahab and Queen Jezebel tried to alienate Naboth from his vineyard, from the inheritance [nachalah] of his ancestors.  For in this matter, Jezebel and Ahab are subject to the same curse and manner of death as Jeroboam.

Jeroboam enters our narrative as he raises up his hand against King Solomon [I Kgs 11:26] and runs to Egypt to escape being killed by Solomon.  After Solomon’s death, Jeroboam is called back to be the leader of the opposition in the north to Solomon’s son and heir apparent, Rehoboam.

Rehoboam refuses to promise the northern tribes that he will remove from them the burden of taxation and forced labor imposed upon them by Solomon.  When the northern tribes (called Israel) see that Rehoboam will not harken to them, they say to King Rehoboam (who is the representative of the house of David, son of Jesse):

‘What portion  [chelek] have we in David? neither have we inheritance [nachalah] in the son of Jesse; to your tents, O Israel; now see to thine own house, David. [I Kgs 12:16]

And here we have the beginning of the division of the monarchy into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah.  Certainly Jeroboam will be remembered for more than one nefarious deed – we have not even mentioned his encouraging the people to bring the golden calves into their worship (join us on March 25th as we study Jeroboam and the calf worship).  Yet it seems that there is a clear connection between Ahab who alienates Naboth from the inheritance [nachalah] of his ancestors, and Jeroboam whose leadership results in the northern tribes losing the inheritance [nachalah] of the house of David.  We understand why Ahab therefore will suffer the same fate as Jeroboam.