Eshel Out Loud
News, Views, and Updates from the Eshel Community
When We Failed to Make Space
"The test of faith is whether I can make space for difference, whether I can make space for the Other." — Rabbi Jonathan Sacks As the High Holiday season approaches, many of us begin the work of cheshbon hanefesh: a personal accounting of the soul. Not just what we did wrong and how to fix [more]
Who are the Leaders for Us and Our Families
In Pirkei Avot, we learn to take initiative for finding ourselves our own Rav to whom we may go for support and advice, and a friend with whom and from whom we can learn. “עשה לך רב וקנה לך חבר” - “Make for yourself a teacher, and acquire for yourself a friend” (Pikei Avot 1:6). [more]
If You Build It, They Will Come
Two of our three kids came out as LGBTQ a few years ago, one after the other, three months apart. As a pretty open-minded and still very frum couple, my husband and I took the first one in stride, got the support we needed, and since our son was then closeted, moved on with our [more]
Love and Liberation this Tu B’Av
The grape harvest is upon us! It is but one of many socially significant occasions to the Jewish people that coincide with the auspicious date of 15 Av, or the minor holiday otherwise known as Tu B’Av. Tu B’Av is more commonly known as a day of love. On this date in Old Judea, single [more]