This is Life as a Sacred Text, š± an everybody-celebrating, justice-centered voyage into ancient stories that can illuminate our own lives.
Itās always human-authored, and it's run on a nonprofit, so itās 100% NAZI FREE. More about the project here, and to subscribe, go here:
This newsletter is a reader-supported publication.
Paid subscriptions allow our tiny team to keep doing this work.
If you want in to the House of Study but paying isn't on for you right now, reach out and we'll hook you up, no questions asked. Always.
Five years ago, I sent Life Is a Sacred Textās first missive.
This whole project began as an experiment: Could ancient Jewish wisdom help us all meet this moment with greater courage, clarity, and compassion? Five years ago I had no idea whether anyone would want this conversation. But you came, more and more of you, because you found something here.
And togetherā as we've mourned impossible losses, struggled with profound questions, celebrated hard-won victories, and worked to become more capable of building a more just worldā we have built something extraordinary. There were weeks when I wasn't sure I had anything left to sayāand your replies reminded me why this work mattered.
We've found each other during elections, pandemics, wars, times of joy, and moments when many of us wondered how to keep going. Together we've created something that has changed me in deep and indelible ways. And it's because of you that I'm brave enough to take the next step.
For five years, these essays have been circling around a set of questions.
Now I'm finally ready to follow the thread all the way through.
Weāre entering a new season: Germination.
For the next few months, Iāll be dedicating more time to a project I've been slowly growing toward through each of these essays: taking people on a single, clear journey. I'm so excited to share more about this on the other sideā early next year.
But LiST, of course, continues while this larger project takes shapeā both our learning sessions and, of course, the dispatches (if in slightly altered form to allow all this to happen.) We'll continue to offer meaningful ways to grow, connect, and respond to this moment.
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Hereās whatās ahead:
- Learn, To Do Series - Register now!
- September 2, 8:00 p.m. ET: Conflict as a Democratic Skill with Priya Parker
- October 7, 8:00 p.m. ET: How to Grow a Movement with Graie Hagans
- Pen for Power Workshops with Rabbi Danya
House of Study Subscribers receive a 75% discount- October 28: How to Write an Op-Ed
- November 18: How to Write a Book Proposal
- House of Study-Only Zoom Salon
- January 10: A special House of Study Zoom Salon exploring the nuances of Lashon Hara (the ethics of speech), on both personal and structural levels.
- House of Study missives will continue every Thursday! Monday free missives will be less frequent, but will still come along as I can.
If youāve been thinking about joining the House of Study as a paid subscriber, thereās never been a better time. I want this community to remain a place where people can think more deeply than the news cycle allows, where Jewish wisdom continues to illuminate the urgent questions of our time, and where we help one another become more courageous in the work of repairing the world. And this is the best way to continue supporting this work.
Don't forget: We just started a series on the history of Jewish mysticism (first piece open to everyone, if you missed it!) and the rest will be part of the House of Study curriculum:
Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg
If LiSTās essays have challenged you, comforted you, helped you imagine a different worldāor simply kept you companyāI hope youāll help carry this work forward.
Join the House of Study Or simply keep reading, responding, questioning, and sharing. Every form of participation helps this work grow.
You can do that by joining the House of Study, where our deeper weekly conversation continues;
- Join the House of Study, and continue the conversation with us.
- Make a tax-deductible contribution to support this season of deep writing and keep this work accessible to everyone. Every amount helps.
- Or simply continue to read, respond, question, and share this with others. š±
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And as always, if you want in to the House of Study but paying isn't on now, please reach out. Money should never be a barrier to Torah. Life@lifeisasacredtext.com
Five years ago, I had no idea where this conversation would take us; I just knew that I wanted to start it.
Now, something new is taking rootāand Iām so grateful that we get to find out where it leads together.
Thank you for reading, questioning, arguing, learning, grieving, celebrating, and growing alongside me.
With gratitudeāand so much love.
RDR
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