Judaism Unbound Episode 416: Loaves of Torah – Vanessa Harper
Vanessa Harper is the Senior Director of Adult Jewish Living at Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley, MA and as the Reform Rabbi-in-Residence at Gann Academy in Waltham, MA. She bakes challah that interprets the Torah portion each week in what was originally an Instagram-based educational project, then a kinetic midrash class, and now a book: Loaves of Torah: Exploring the Jewish Year Through Challah. She joins Dan and Lex for a conversation about living in creative relationship to Judaism, and challah as a chevruta (study-partner).
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[1] Be sure to check out Harper’s new book, Loaves of Torah: Exploring the Jewish Year Through Challah, and keep tabs on her challah-making adventures on Instagram @lechlechallah.
[2] Harper states that Reggio Emilia’s pedagogical philosophy – which acknowledges the hundreds of creative languages students use to learn – strongly influenced her creation of this book.
[3] Lex shouts out Midrash Manicures, a blog that posted images of nail art reflecting the weekly Torah portions.
[4] Lex says one of Judaism’s most valuable qualities is its yearly cycles, and boy, have we loved celebrating them! Check out Shmita Hives, our collaborative curriculum honoring the seventh year of the Jewish agricultural cycle during which land is laid to rest, and our episodes with its co-creators, Episode 311: Shmita Hives – Asher Edes, Alexander Grace Vickery.
[5] Dan’s friend says that, in Germany, challah is just bread. He’s talking about hefekranz. To learn how hefekranz became challah, you’ll have to read Harper’s book.
[6] Lex brings up the book, Torah: A Women’s Commentary, in his question about redefining traditional male Jewish practices (like Torah commentary) on traditionally non-male terms (like baking) to take mitzvah beyond the gender binary.
[7] Harper cites a midrash (rabbinic interpretation of a part of the Torah) which states that, when God spoke to the Israelites at Mount Sinai, God spoke to each person in the language that they can understand. See Shemot Rabbah 5:9.
[8] Lex talks a lot about fruit slices. These fruit slices, among other things, have become “Jewish-coded” via the nature of Judaism as an evolving, living experience. Behold: the fruit slices. If you know, you know. And, if you didn’t know, now you do. We love you either way.
