As we enter the joyous month of Adar, and in honor of the upside-down silliness often accompanying the holiday of Purim, I asked artificial Intelligence (a.k.a. “AI”) to come up with a Torah teaching for our next Shabbat together that combined sitting in a Starbucks and writing this month’s column. Here is a snippet of the Al version:
I asked artificial Intelligence (a.k.a. “AI”) to come up with a Torah teaching for our next Shabbat together that combined sitting in a Starbucks and writing this month’s column.
“This week, as I sit in a cozy corner of my local Starbucks, I find myself reflecting on Parashat Ki Tisa and its timeless teachings. The bustling environment around me, filled with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the soft hum of conversations, provides an ideal backdrop for contemplating the profound messages within this portion. Ki Tissa reminds us of the essential balance between our spiritual commitments and earthly responsibilities, a theme that feels particularly relevant in our fast-paced, modem lives.”
Torah portion tells the story of the Golden Calf
My human sensibilities found the AI-generated message a bit wanting. Although it is true that the Torah portion we will read for our next Shabbat together—the Shabbat just after Purim, coinciding with Shushan Purim (still celebrated in the Old City of Jerusalem)—narrates the dramatic episode of the Golden Calf, which is “a poignant story that underscores the consequences of losing faith and the redemptive power of repentance,” Al does not quite capture the moment.
In this case, my venture into an encounter with Al reinforced the challenge of discerning and navigating the Golden Calf(s) in our lives and/or how we may stray from the core ethics of Judaism, especially as it relates to our role in supporting one another and the underprivileged members of our communities.
Turn back to the core ethics of Judaism
We are living through a politically tumultuous time, both within the United States and in Israel. We are challenged aggressively to rethink our words, to rephrase governmental or departmental policies to conform to changing political norms that are asking us to be less “woke.”
Judaism teaches us to look beyond the Golden Calf of wordsmithing that leads to favoritism of the “haves” over the “have-nots.”
Yet, Judaism teaches us to look beyond the Golden Calf of wordsmithing that leads to favoritism of the “haves” over the “have-nots.” Judaism leads us to actions we can take to support not only our freedom of worship but our freedom to choose between right and wrong.
How do we learn Judaism this month? We may be more familiar with the entertaining aspects of Purim—dressing in costume, eating hamantaschen, hearing the story of Esther (a mitzvah), drowning out the name of Haman with our graggers, and sharing a festive meal. However, there are other mitzvahs that Judaism calls us to at this time of year.
Two mitzvahs for the season
Two mitzvahs associated with Purim encourage generosity. One of these is to give mishloach manot—shalach manos in Yiddish—which are small packages of food or treats distributed to friends and family.
A second mitzvah is matanot la’evyonim (“gifts to the poor”), which goes beyond giving food gifts to those we know.
A second mitzvah is matanot la’evyonim (“gifts to the poor”), which goes beyond giving food gifts to those we know. The latter mitzvah, which we celebrate this year on Sunday, March 16, involves donating to those in need. Volunteering with or donating to a food pantry or other community programs that help support the unhoused populations of our communities is an important activity.
Let’s keep the mitzvahs going! Hag sameakh/happy holiday to all.
Rabbi Jennifer Lewis will serve UHC Terre Haute during the 2024-25 academic year.
Uplifting article.