Freedom Journeys

by Waskow, Arthur Ocean; Berman, Phyllis Ocean

• ISBN13: 9781580234450
• ISBN10: 1580234453
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2011-02-11
• Publisher: Jewish Lights Pub

Summary

This book calls us to rethink the story of Pharaoh, the Exodus, and the wilderness to learn from it ways we can address our modern-day enslavements that echo the ancient ones¿corporate greed; making ¿strangers¿ into pariahs; the climate crisis and other ecological disasters like the ancient ¿plagues.¿ By examining the archetypal tale of the Hebrews¿ liberation from Egypt and the various ways the story has been retold throughout history, we gain new perspectives on the destructive effects of top-down, unaccountable power; the importance of replacing it with new forms of community; and the role of action in the quest for freedom. Guided by award-winning spiritual and social justice leaders Rabbi Arthur Waskow and Rabbi Phyllis Berman, you will discover profound insights in the retelling of the biblical account of the Exodus as well as ancient and modern parallels as you examine such steps on the freedom journey as: ¿ From Nomadic Freedom to Imperial Slavery ¿ Midwives and Moses ¿ From the Palace to the Sea ¿ From the Sea to Sinai ¿ Encountering Wilderness, Creating Community ¿ Death, Rebellion, and War ¿ Across the River ¿ Across Millennia¿Rabbinic, Christian, Muslim and Modern Reframings of Exodus

Table of Contents

Preface: Why Should We Relearn the Story?	p. xv
From Nomadic Freedom to Imperial Slavery	p. 1
Entering the Tight and Narrow Place	p. 3
Controlling the Family	p. 7
Controlling the Realm	p. 11
Midwives and Moses	p. 15
From Benevolent Despot to Vindictive Tyrant	p. 19
Giving Birth to Freedom	p. 22
Drawn Forth, Drawing Forth	p. 32
The Fiery Voice at the Burning Bush	p. 36
Toward Freedom-or Toward Death?	p. 45
From the Palace to the Sea	p. 53
Facing Pharaoh	p. 55
Who Hardened Pharaohs Heart?	p. 60
Brickmakers' Union Number One	p. 65
Recalling the Past, Transforming the Future	p. 69
The Sea of Ending and Beginning	p. 72
From the Sea to Sinai	p. 75
The Taste of Freedom	p. 77
Before the Sinai Marriage	p. 82
The Wordless Torah of the Wordless Mountains	p. 86
Sinai: The Universe Says ôIö	p. 88
Encountering Wilderness, Creating Community	p. 93
Carrying the Sacred Space	p. 95
The Green Menorah	p. 101
Sacred Time: The Seventh Day	p. 103
Sacred Time: The Seventh Year	p. 111
Transforming Our Festivals and Our Lives	p. 117
In the Dangerous Doorways	p. 121
Sacred Clothing, Holy Body, Naked Torah	p. 124
Two Kinds of Holy Light	p. 127
Food, Our Innards, and God's Inwardness	p. 130
Strange Fire, All-Consuming Commitment	p. 132
The Emerging Torah of Same-Sex Sexuality	p. 134
Death, Rebellion, and War	p. 139
Into the Earth	p. 141
Staring Death in the Face	p. 144
Meeting Brings Disaster, and a Cure	p. 147
To Remember, to Blot Out	p. 152
From Genocide to Purification	p. 157
Dying Leader, Dying Generation	p. 162
Across the River	p. 167
Living on the Edge	p. 169
Wind, Rain, Sun, Soil, Seed Are One	p. 173
The Land Shall Not Become Mitzrayyim	p. 177
Soldier, Go Home!	p. 180
Moses as Prophetic Model	p. 183
Joshua Meets God's General	p. 185
Across Millennia	p. 187
The Rabbis Cross Their Own Red Sea	p. 189
The Rabbis Climb Their Own Mount Sinai	p. 195
The Rabbis Sing the Song of Songs: Love as Freedom	p. 198
Exodus in the Life and Death of Jesus	p. 203
Exodus in the Qur'an: Mercy, Compassion, and Forgiveness	p. 210
Exodus in African America: A Great Camp Meeting	p. 217
Freedom Journey for the Planet?	p. 225
Acknowledgments	p. 237
Notes	p. 239
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 240
About the Authors	p. 244
About the Contributors	p. 247
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