The fantastic adventures of Koach Baruch

Cenote (sinkhole) near Chichen Itza, Mexico. Photo by Nikonian Novice. Yesterday morning, someone parked their car on a downtown street here in Saint Louis, went into the gym and when they came out, found their car in a sinkhole .  The earth just opened up and swallowed their car! Well, actually, sinkholes develop overtime. The rock and soil underneath us whittle away from the acidic water that carves out underground passages that cause voids.  After awhile, the voids get filled in with the soil and rock from above and eventually cave in.  Last week's portion was Korach, not to be confused with my name, Koach. In the beginning of this parsha, we see Korach challenging Moses and Aaron's leadership. Numbers 16: 1-3 states Now Korah, son of Izhar son of Kohath son of Levi, betook himself, along with Dathan and Abiram sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—descendants of Reuben—to rise up against Moses, together with two hundred and fifty Israelites, ch...

I feel more alive now than I ever have in my life. I have a chance to live, as I've dreamed. -- Nina Simone I declared last year that this year, 5777, would be a year in transition. Working with a life coach, heeding the wise counsel of my rabbis, family and friends, this year has opened me up to so many wonderful opportunities to learn and share my gifts --- and the journey has just begun. And just like my musical heroine Nina, I have the chance to live life as I have dreamed. As I move more fully into spiritual leadership, I have been challenged by two of my friends and teachers, Rabbi Scott and Rabbi Micah, to spend time with the text of each parsha and create either a d'var torah or a song. Whoa!  A big task for me. However it is one that I am ready for.  It will challenge me to be more intimate with the text each week and push me to exercise this muscle I have been wanting to flex. To that end, I plan to complete this challenge each week, but think about it ...