rabbiruth.bsky.social - Profile | ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

In my congregation, we have moved our Torah study group to study the Torah SheB'al Peh, the Oral Torah. Most folks didn't know that the oral revelation tradition had been passed down for generations before it was codified. I went to Orthodox schools, so I wonder if this is not generally known.

submitted 3 hours ago • 0 comments

We recruit individuals and we retain families. Cutting a major source of military spouse employment and injecting politics into the senior ranks is going to lead to a huge loss of mid-grade talent. This is all absolutely devastating to national security. www.cnn.com/2025/02/20/p...

submitted 3 days ago • 80 comments

I scheduled to calls with good friends while driving my 5.5 hour drive. It does my soul good to connect with people who are good and caring but also snide and real.

submitted 2 days ago • 0 comments

I am so excited to be in North Carolina for my monthly rabbi weekend. Ours is a small congregation but we pack in a lot of learning, praying and being together each month.

submitted 3 days ago • 0 comments

In these times when news is coming fast and furious and things are changing, writing a sermon mid-week feel like a gamble. Necessary but a gamble.

submitted 3 days ago • 0 comments

Almost to the day, every six weeks, my husband gives blood. There is a sick child in our community for whom he is a great match. Even when it is hard to schedule, he makes time because a life depends on it.

submitted 4 days ago • 5 comments

We are back for day two in front of Judge Reyes in Talbott v. Trump, the challenge to Trump's anti-trans military executive order. The plaintiffs are seeking a preliminary injunction; we do not expect a ruling until after a hearing after the military issues its implementing guidance next week.

submitted 4 days ago • 16 comments

Last night, we got a preview of the final itinerary of the Jewish women's trip to Morocco that I'm running in April/May. SO excited. It's full but the next one will run in November. rabbiruth.com

submitted 4 days ago • 0 comments

heartbroken but not surprised. still heartbroken. #Bibas

submitted 5 days ago • 0 comments

I taught this morning and we had such a good time exploring ideas and testing the limits of what I know, then I went for a walk with a friend. Legs happy, heart full. How are you caring for yourself?

submitted 5 days ago • 0 comments

In Judaism the highest form of holy work is that done for the dead because they cannot repay you in any way. Michael Hirsch is taking this to the next level www.nytimes.com/2025/02/16/n...

submitted 5 days ago • 1 comment

This is a hate crime and should be treated as such: Man charged in Florida shooting thought victims were Palestinians, police say

submitted 5 days ago • 0 comments

Sorting through Jewish values to decide what the priorities are for this family. So impressed with how they worked together and what they came up with #jewishthreads

submitted 6 days ago • 0 comments

3 times in the last two weeks I've encountered Shabbtai Tzvi in the course of my work. This is odd because Tzvi d. in 1676 and even for my doctoral studies he was only somewhat important. But I have come to the conclusion that there is a reason to go back and study him RIGHT NOW

submitted 6 days ago • 2 comments

so grateful for the rays of winter sun

submitted 6 days ago • 0 comments

The rise of Nazism in Europe destroyed much of my mother's family. I know the cost of allowing people to speak hate unchecked. It is not that one can't say anything you want, but if you do, the cost to those you vilify can be extraordinary.

submitted 7 days ago • 0 comments

Harsh rhetoric about the humanity of Transgender people is an insult to God. We are all created in the divine image.

submitted 9 days ago • 0 comments

This form of racism/sexism is shocking to me: it shouldn't be but it is. And this from the folks who abhor affirmative action. I know it won't win but it will send a chill to HR departments everywhere.

submitted 9 days ago • 0 comments

Getting ready for Shabbat. Shabbat is meant to be a day of rest and restoration. May it be so for all those who are seeking return to their homes. May it be so for those who are living in fear. May it be so for those who are ill. May it be so for those who seek to cause chaos. May it be so for all.

submitted 9 days ago • 0 comments

The Torah does not say to love thy neighbor only if they are rich, straight, male, and white. On the contrary, there are no qualifiers. We need to love all of our neighbors. No, it is not easy. You might have some fundamental differences with them, but still, you have to love them.

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submitted 10 days ago • 261 comments

"I suspect that the assault on U.S.A.I.D. is a test run for an offensive against a lifeline for poor people here in the United States — Medicaid" @nickkristof.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/o...

submitted 10 days ago • 3 comments

I have a student who has been itching to debate God with me. Today, we will start our discussion by making hamantaschen and thinking about what is there that we can't see. I can't wait to see how this unfolds.

submitted 10 days ago • 1 comment

So excited to be teaching for @mstreiffer.bsky.social 's Laasok community today. I am looking at non-Ashkenazi forms of Zionism. Won't get to all of them but the examples I have chosen are really fun.

submitted 10 days ago • 0 comments

Today! (Thursday 9:30 am PT) We cannot burn out. We must take care of our own souls. Plus we need each other to help us remember what is good & important.

submitted 10 days ago • 0 comments

Trump and Musk claim they are trying to reduce waste, fraud and abuse. This is the job of Inspectors General, whom Trump is firing. Two days ago, the USAID IG explained how shutting down the agency created the risk of billions in fraud. Next day he was fired. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

submitted 11 days ago • 14 comments

Donald Trump said he’d return decision making to democratically elected officials. Instead, he’s handed it over to the world’s richest man, @dgraham.bsky.social writes.

submitted 12 days ago • 23 comments

Made some flower mezuzot. They bring me joy.

submitted 12 days ago • 2 comments

When your grown kid says, "It's Black History Month, so we should choose some books to read together," you can feel good about the kind of human you raised.

submitted 13 days ago • 3 comments

What does it look like when we forgive someone a mistake? How do we hold boundaries without breaking relationships? Days like this, when I am faced with these questions in real time, I am grateful for being grounded in a tradition that gives me practical tools for navigating these types of scenarios

submitted 14 days ago • 0 comments

US farmers sold $2 billion of food to USAID. Not any more. - US farmers provided 41% of food delivered by USAID - $340M of purchases/shipments are now paused. Over 680,000 tonnes. - Food stranded in Houston - Aid stopped in transit. The world’s poor starving, food rotting & US farmers screwed.

submitted 16 days ago • 777 comments

I think we need an option that allows us to refuse to give our data to oligarchs

submitted 16 days ago • 0 comments

Reading through recommendations. What a difference a good recommendation makes, the examples make it come alive. The writing makes it sing. So it has me wondering about folks who don't have good writers as their recommenders. They are stuck through no fault of their own.

submitted 17 days ago • 0 comments