Category Archives: Uncategorized
Avodah Goes #DefaultVeg – a Food Policy to Reflect Environmental Justice Values
We are thrilled to announce that on this Earth Day, Avodah is going #DefaultVeg – a move that shifts our purchasing practices away from factory farming, a leading driver of environmental injustice. Factory farms produce 99 percent of all animal … Continue reading
There’s a Riot Goin’ On: Talking about Violence and Power, Part II: D’var Torah for Parashat VaYehi
“Shim‘on and Levi are brothers, weapons of violence their trade” (Bereishit/Genesis 49:5). Four weeks ago, in Parashat VaYishlah, we read of Shim‘on and Levi’s premeditated massacre of all men of the town of Shekhem in order to rescue their sister … Continue reading
Multiple Meanings in Texts, Multiple Dynamics in Power Relationships: D’var Torah for Parashat VaYiggash
Parashat Va-Yiggash (Bereishit 44:18-47:27) Rabbi Aryeh Bernstein, Avodah National Jewish Educator For the past week, we have dwelled in the strange and tense pause between the beginning of Yehuda’s speech to Yoseph, at the end of last week’s parasha, and … Continue reading
2020 Was Tough. These Are The Moments That Got us Through
We are so proud to share some of the incredible feats and exciting moments we celebrated at Avodah in 2020 and we can’t wait for you to see what we have in store in 2021. Continue reading
There’s a Riot Goin’ On: Talking about Violence and Power — Devar Torah for Parashat VaYishlah
This week, we’re going to talk about violence. It will take us a little more time than usual, as this loaded topic may require, and I offer a content warning that this essay and the texts in it refer to … Continue reading
Abraham’s Call as an Urgent Plea from a Burning Building: Devar Torah for Parashat Lekh-Lekha, by Rabbi Aryeh Bernstein
This week’s parashah begins the story of the Jewish people. All people mythologically descend from Adam and Eve and through the one remnant of their descendants, Noah, as we read last week. From here on out, the Torah will narrow … Continue reading
#FamiliesBelongTogether Demonstration Signs
On Saturday, June 30th, thousands, including many in our Avodah community will take to the streets for #FamiliesBelongTogether rallies in cities across America. We’re raising our voices to oppose the recent separation of 2,342 immigrant children from their parents, an … Continue reading
Revelation and Revolution on Shavuot
Shavuot–the holiday marking the giving of the Torah on Sinai — begins Tuesday night. Over the past 50 days, we’ve been counting the weeks in Avodah’s Revelation and Revolution Omer project and growing in strength and compassion to refuel … Continue reading
‘Fab Five’ of Adult Education in New Orleans Times-Picayune
Avodah Corps Member Micah Nelson counts herself among the ‘Fab Five,’ education superheroes of different faith backgrounds who teach students at the YMCA Education Services (YES) of Greater New Orleans, the Y’s free adult literacy program. These five women teach reading, … Continue reading