Torah Queeries: Weekly Commentaries on the Hebrew Bible

0814720129......Page 1
Contents......Page 6
Foreword......Page 12
Introduction: Interpreting the Bible through a Bent Lens......Page 14
PART I: Bereshit, The Book of Genesis......Page 22
1 Male and Female God Created Them: Parashat Bereshit (Genesis 1:1–6:8)......Page 24
2 From Delight to Destruction: The Double-Faced Power of Sex: Parashat Noach (Genesis 6:9–11:32)......Page 32
3 Going to and Becoming Ourselves: Transformation and Covenants in Parashat Lech Lecha (Genesis 12:1–17:27)......Page 37
4 Looking Back to Look Forward: Parashat Vayera (Genesis 18:1–22:24)......Page 42
5 When Gender Varies: A Curious Case of Kere and Ketiv: Parashat Chayei Sarah (Genesis 23:1–25:18)......Page 47
6 Esau’s Gender Crossing: Parashat Toldot (Genesis 25:19–28:9)......Page 51
7 And Jacob Came Out: Parashat Vayetzei (Genesis 28:10–32:3)......Page 56
8 Biblical Sex: Parashat Vayishlach (Genesis 32:4–36:43)......Page 60
9 Joseph’s Fabulous Technicolor Dreamcoat: Parashat Vayeshev (Genesis 37:1–40:23)......Page 66
10 Yusuf Come Home: Parashat Miketz (Genesis 41:1–44:17)......Page 73
11 Forgiveness as a Queer Response: Parashat Vayigash (Genesis 44:18–47:27)......Page 77
12 Uncovering Joseph’s Bones: Parashat Vayechi (Genesis 47:28–50:26)......Page 81
PART II: Shemot, The Book of Exodus......Page 86
13 Making Noise for Social Change: Parashat Shemot (Exodus 1:1–6:1)......Page 88
14 Uncircumcized Lips: Parashat Vaeira (Exodus 6:2–9:35)......Page 93
15 The Ritual of Storytelling: Parashat Bo (Exodus 10:1–13:16)......Page 98
16 Into Life: The Humanism of the Exodus: Parashat Beshalach (Exodus 13:17–17:16)......Page 102
17 The Necessity of Windows: Parashat Yitro (Exodus 18:1–20:26)......Page 106
18 Laws and Judgments as a “Bridge to a Better World”: Parashat Mishpatim (Exodus 21:1–24:18)......Page 111
19 Building an Inclusive Social Space: Parashat Terumah (Exodus 25:1–27:19)......Page 115
20 When the Fabulous Is Holy: Parashat Tetzaveh (Exodus 27:20—30:10)......Page 119
21 Mounting Sinai: Parashat Ki Tisa (Exodus 30:11–34:35)......Page 122
22 Listening to Heart-Wisdom: Parashat Vayakhel (Exodus 35:1–38:20)......Page 126
23 A Knack for Design: Parashat Pekudei (Exodus 38:21–40:38)......Page 130
PART III: Vayikra, The Book of Leviticus......Page 134
24 Bodily Perfection in the Sanctuary: Parashat Vayikra (Leviticus 1:1–5:26)......Page 136
25 HaNer Tamid, dos Pintele Yid v’ha Zohar Muzar: The Eternal Flame, the Jewish Spark, and the Flaming Queer: Parashat Tsav (Leviticus 6:1–8:36)......Page 142
26 Nadav and Avihu and Dietary Laws: A Case of Action and Reaction: Parashat Shemini (Leviticus 9:1–11:47)......Page 148
27 Nagu’a: Touched by the Divine: Parashat Tazri’a (Leviticus 12:1–13:59)......Page 153
28 It’s the Purity, Stupid: Reading Leviticus in Context: Parashat Metzora (Leviticus 14:1–15:33)......Page 158
29 How Flexible Can Jewish Law Be? Parashat Acharei Mot (Leviticus 16:1–18:30)......Page 164
30 Sex in the Talmud: How to Understand Leviticus 18 and 20: Parashat Kedoshim (Leviticus 19:1–20:27)......Page 170
31 Fear Factor: Lesbian Sex and Gay Men: Parashat Emor (Leviticus 21:1–24:23)......Page 183
32 Neither Oppress nor Allow Others to Oppress You: Parashat Behar (Leviticus 25:1–26:2)......Page 187
33 “Less Is More” and the Gift of Rain: The Value of Devaluation in Behukotai and Cixous’s Desire-That-Gives: Parashat Behukotai (Leviticus 26:3–27:34)......Page 192
PART IV: Bemidbar, The Book of Numbers......Page 198
34 How to Construct a Community: Parashat Bemidbar (Numbers 1:1–4:20)......Page 200
35 From Impurity to Blessing: Parashat Naso (Numbers 4:21–7:89)......Page 205
36 Setting the Stage for Pluralistic Judaism: Parashat Beha’alotecha (Numbers 8:1–12:16)......Page 210
37 Ruach Acheret—Ruach Hakodesh/Different Spirit—Sacred Spirit: Parashat Shelach (Numbers 13:1–15:41)......Page 212
38 Torah and Its Discontents: Parashat Korach (Numbers 16:1–18:32)......Page 215
39 The Healing Serpent: Recovering Long Lost Jewish Fragments: Parashat Hukkat (Numbers 19:1–22:1)......Page 219
40 Between Beast and Angel: The Queer, Fabulous Self: Parashat Balak (Numbers 22:2–25:10)......Page 225
41 Pinchas, Zimri, and the Channels of Divine Will: Parashat Pinchas (Numbers 25:10–30:1)......Page 229
42 Going Ahead: Parashat Matot (Numbers 30:2–32:42)......Page 233
43 Hearing Ancient, Courageous Voices for Justice and Change: Parashat Masei (Numbers 33:1–36:13)......Page 237
PART V: Devarim, The Book of Deuteronomy......Page 242
44 From Whom Do We Learn History? Why Queer Community Needs Texts More Than Other Communities: Parashat Devarim (Deuteronomy 1:1–3:22)......Page 244
45 Rethinking the Wicked “Son”: Parashat Vaetchanan (Deuteronomy 3:23–7:11)......Page 248
46 Bind These Words: Parashat Ekev (Deuteronomy 7:12–11:25)......Page 253
47 Neither Adding nor Taking Away: Parashat Re’eh (Deuteronomy 11:26–16:17)......Page 259
48 Setting Ourselves Judges: Parashat Shoftim (Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9)......Page 263
49 To Wear Is Human, to Live—Divine: Parashat Ki Tetse (Deuteronomy 21:10–25:19)......Page 267
50 In a New Country: Parashat Ki Tavo (Deuteronomy 26:1–29:8)......Page 272
51 Embodied Jews: Parashat Nitzavim (Deuteronomy 29:9–30:20)......Page 276
52 “Be Strong and Resolute”: Parashat Vayelech (Deuteronomy 31:1–30)......Page 280
53 Dor l’Dor: Parashat Ha’azinu (Deuteronomy 32:1–52)......Page 284
54 This Is the Blessing: The “First Openly Gay Rabbi” Reminisces: Parashat Zot Ha’bracha (Deuteronomy 33:1–34:12)......Page 290
PART VI: Holiday Portions......Page 296
55 The Parade of Families: Rosh Hashanah......Page 298
56 What Is Atonement? Yom Kippur......Page 303
57 Strength through Diversity: Sukkot......Page 307
58 Ad de’lo Yada: Until We Don’t Know the Difference: The Book of Esther and Purim......Page 310
59 Liberation and Transgender Jews: Passover......Page 314
60 Trance and Trans at Har Sinai: Shavu’ot......Page 319
The New Rabbis: A Postscript......Page 324
Contributors......Page 328
B......Page 336
D......Page 337
E......Page 338
G......Page 339
H......Page 340
I......Page 341
J......Page 342
L......Page 343
M......Page 344
O......Page 345
Q......Page 346
S......Page 347
T......Page 349
Z......Page 350