Eshel Out Loud
News, Views, and Updates from the Eshel Community
The Eshel Tree: Rooted in Welcome
It begins with a seed. וַיִּטַּע אֵשֶׁל בִּבְאֵר שָׁבַע וַיִּקְרָא שָׁם בְּשֵׁם ה׳ אֵל עוֹלָם “[Avraham] planted an eshel in Be’er Sheva, and invoked there the Name of the Eternal, the everlasting God” (Bereishit 21:33). Next week, when we read Parshat Vayera, we encounter the biblical source of Eshel’s name - the eshel tree that Avraham [more]
Keep The Word Close
כי קרוב אליך הדבר מאד בפיך ובלבבך לעשתו Know the word is very close to you- on your lips and in your heart may you enact it. This verse in Devarim has always struck me. I feel so intrinsically that the mitzvot which our tradition calls upon us to observe and enact, dwell deep in [more]
Finding My Way Back to Shul
I was ten years old when I was finally able to put a name to the feeling I had known my whole life - that I was attracted to women. I came out to my family at a young age and was accepted by them wholeheartedly. Growing up in a supportive and open Conservative shul, [more]
Like Clay in the Potter’s Hands
This Yom Kippur, we will sing together: כִּי הִנֵּה כַּחֹֽמֶר בְּיַד הַיּוֹצֵר / בִּרְצוֹתוֹ מַרְחִיב וּבִרְצוֹתוֹ מְקַצֵּר / כֵּן אֲנַֽחְנוּ בְּיָדְךָ Like clay in the hands of the potter / if he wills it, he expands it and if he wills it he contracts it / so too are we in Your hands. This piyyut [more]