Online Programs

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Equity or Empire: Which biblical legacy shall we choose?

Last Class: Thursday Nov 11, at 5:00pm - 6:00pm Pacific Time / 8pm - 9pm Eastern Time

Last Class $40 USD

End of day Tuesday is the deadline to register.

Last Class

The Torah features different spiritual systems, rooted as it is, in more than one community of experience! One reoccurring narrative is about conquest & purification of the land. Another is the establishment of a law in which the citizen and the stranger/migrant/day laborer share the same rights. Which of these biblical narratives do we want to nurture in our time and which do we want to put to rest? Join Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb for an exploration of biblical, rabbinic, and contemporary writings related to biblical equity and conquest narratives. Everyone is welcome. No Hebrew necessary.

Session 1: Oct 7 - Introduction
Introduction of the frame of the series
Session 2: Oct 14 - Conquest Geographies
Biblical and contemporary geographies of conquest: Pillars of Ashera, Kiryat Arba/Hebron, Ein Hod and Ayn Hod and Jericho.
Session 3: Oct 21 - Women’s bodies and experience living with equity and empire
Women’s drum, warrior, lament and prophetic traditions in the Torah. Women as truth tellers about the experience of conquest.
Session 4: Oct 28 - From Mitzryim to Sinai
Empire, Reparations and Treaty Negotiations in biblical and contemporary spiritual traditions.  An overview of the Torah Tradition’s spiritual trajectory. Colonial settlerism in the US and exploration of the meaning of indigeneity in Palestinian/Jewish conversations.
Session 5: Nov 4 - Hanooka Rewrite
From the Myths of Macabean Empire to the rise of rabbinic nonviolence, and the zionist re-embrace of the Macabean myth in light of Palestinian nonviolence resistance.
Session 6: Nov 11 - Rabbi Tamares and the Balfourites
Pre-Shoah critique of Zionism from a pacifist orthodox European rabbi.  The story of Hannah Rochel’s aliyah and prayer at Rachel’s tomb.  Reflections of the class, remaining questions, new directions.

About Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, she/her, Ohlone land

Photo: Lynn Gottlieb with arms stretch in front of mural

Lynn Gottlieb is a pioneer feminist rabbi, storyteller, percussionist, peace educator, writer, ceremonialist, community activist, and clown. She is deeply committed to a life grounded in the creativity, joy, and wisdom of the Torah (teachings) of Nonviolence.

Her journey includes lifelong activism with The Fellowship of Reconciliation and an ongoing pursuit of Israeli Palestinian conflict transformation based on principles of active nonviolence.

Since 1964, Lynn has engaged in multifaith, intergenerational, and multicultural organizing around issues of economic and racial justice, gender justice, and ‘the demilitarization of land and life’. Lynn served as a pulpit rabbi from 1973 to 1980 with Temple Beth Or of the Deaf and Mishkan, An Experimental Shul in NY, and from 1981 to 2005 with Congregation Nahalat Shalom in Albuquerque, NM, which she co-founded.

Lynn sits on the Rabbinic Council of Jewish Voice for Peace and is board chair of the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity. She is the author of several books, including Peace Primer II, She Who Dwells Within: A Feminist Vision of Renewed Judaism, World Beyond Borders Passover Haggadah, and Trail Guide to the Torah of Nonviolence.

Check out Rabbi Lynn's Patreon page and the variety of tiers for monthly blogs, art images, Jewish school, and adult education.