Unraveling Religion, Judaic Edition - Explorations and Discussions of the Book 'Sacred Insignia: The Spiritual Significance of Brit Milah, Circumcision, and the Sacred Sexual Relationship Between Men and Women': A Talk with Rabbi Jessica Minnen and Rabbi Elihu Moshe Gevirtz

Explorations and Discussions of the Book 'Sacred Insignia: The Spiritual Significance of Brit Milah, Circumcision, and the Sacred Sexual Relationship Between Men and Women': A Talk with Rabbi Jessica Minnen and Rabbi Elihu Moshe Gevirtz

02/17/25 • 64 min

In this initial conversation of Rabbi Jessica hosting, Rabbi Jess and Rabbi Elihu Moshe Gevirtz explore the mystical and practical reasons, and implications of circumcision from his book 'Sacred Insignia' and the seven years of research that went into the writing, research, thought, and reflection of the book.

Aspects of the discussions include:

why circumcision?
addressing argument against circumcision
the practical implications and the spiritual implication of circumcision
circumcision as a tribal marker of Israel and Jewish community
how to create a sacred environment for a Brit and why it is important

From a narrative about the book:

'What is the spiritual reason that we perform a bris / brit milah? Why do we circumcise our sons? Why on the eighth day? Isn’t this boy perfect the way he is? What do the babies want? How can we make the ceremony beautiful and sacred? How do I initiate my son into a life of the sacred?'
'Brit Milah (or “bris”) leads to a life of generosity and kindness to others. It is an experience of unity of one’s soul with one’s body. It is an expression of oneness with God and an open heart.'
'It is a counterbalance to arrogance and an embodiment of humility. In the words of the Zohar, Brit Milah is a “sacred insignia,” an embodiment of a life-long commitment to a life of holiness. It is an embodiment of spirituality within sacred sexuality shared by husband and wife.'

Biography:

Rabbi Elihu Moshe Gevirtz was ordained by a Beit Din (Rabbinic Court) consisting of his teachers Rabbi Mel Gottlieb, Rabbi Stan Levy, Rabbi Mordecai Finley, and Rabbi Stephen Robbins at the Academy for Jewish Religion – California in 2012.

His teachers include Rabbi Ronnie Serr, Rabbi Haim Ovadia, Rabbi Elijah Shochet, Reb Mimi Feigelson, Rav Dror Cassouto, Rabbi Eliyahu Weisman, Rabbi Motti Wilhelm, Dr. Joel Gereboff, Rabbi Daniel Bouskila, Rabbi J.B. Sacks, Rabbi Miriam Glazer, Rabbi Toba August, and others.

He is a botanist and wildlife biologist who studies native plants, animals, and ecosystems and works on habitat restoration and conservation in southern California. His major published scientific works include botanical and wildlife studies of several ecological reserves, state parks, and other natural areas, and several habitat restoration plans. Over the years, he has worked to establish several nature preserves in Santa Barbara County, California. He is currently studying the songs of western meadowlarks. Finally, he has recently published a collection of playful short stories for children titled “Superfluous the Dragon and Other Tall Tales.”

He lives with his family in the United States.

Aspects of the discussions include:

why circumcision?
addressing argument against circumcision
the practical implications and the spiritual implication of circumcision
circumcision as a tribal marker of Israel and Jewish community
how to create a sacred environment for a Brit and why it is important

From a narrative about the book:

'What is the spiritual reason that we perform a bris / brit milah? Why do we circumcise our sons? Why on the eighth day? Isn’t this boy perfect the way he is? What do the babies want? How can we make the ceremony beautiful and sacred? How do I initiate my son into a life of the sacred?'
'Brit Milah (or “bris”) leads to a life of generosity and kindness to others. It is an experience of unity of one’s soul with one’s body. It is an expression of oneness with God and an open heart.'
'It is a counterbalance to arrogance and an embodiment of humility. In the words of the Zohar, Brit Milah is a “sacred insignia,” an embodiment of a life-long commitment to a life of holiness. It is an embodiment of spirituality within sacred sexuality shared by husband and wife.'

Biography:

He lives with his family in the United States.

Previous Episode

Introducing Rabbi Jessica Minnen, New Host of Unraveling Religion, Judaic Edition

Rabbi Jessica Minnen is the new Host of Unraveling Religion, Judaic Edition and sat down to talk with Joel as a way of introduction.

Rabbi Jessica and Joel explore Judaism and the origin and reason for the name Unraveling Religion, Rabbi Jessica's experiences growing into Judaism and becoming a Rabbi, the influence of Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, explore Hevruta, what it is and why it is effective, as well as some upcoming topics and conversations for the coming year.

Biography

Rabbi Jessica Minnen is a writer, ritualist, and liturgist committed to the discipline of delight. Inspired by user-centered design, she consults with organizations across the country to create, deliver, and scale transformative Jewish learning. Jessica is a sought-after educator who has taught for Hillel International, Jewish Federations of North America, JCC Association of North America, Foundation for Jewish Camp, and Birthright Israel, among others. She was a part of the founding team of OneTable where she served as Rabbi in Residence from 2014-2021, and now works as a Senior Education Specialist with Momentum where she focuses on introducing women around the world to Jewish values through an immersive Israel experience, regional retreats, cohort-based learning, and a daily companion app. Originally from Paducah, Kentucky, Jessica is an alumna of Washington University in St. Louis, the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, Paideia: The European Institute for Jewish Studies in Sweden, and Baltimore Hebrew University. She is a past Fellow of the Shalom Hartman Institute’s Women’s Leadership Mission and the Ruskay Institute for Professional Leadership and received rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary in 2013. Jessica lives in Denver, Colorado and is mom to one amazing dog and one amazing human.

Next Episode

undefined - Redemption and Transformation, An Examination Through The Lens Of Christian And Jewish Theology, Easter and Passover: Rabbi Jess Talks with Reverend Amanda Barker

Redemption and Transformation, An Examination Through The Lens Of Christian And Jewish Theology, Easter and Passover: Rabbi Jess Talks with Reverend Amanda Barker

Rabbi Jess and Reverend Amanda Barker discuss the relationship of Redemption in Judaism and Christianity.

What is Redemption?
What is Redemption in Christianity?
In Judaism?
How do they overlap?
How do they differ?
Is redemption an active process?
What does redemption call us to?
What actions?
What obligations?
How does one become redeemed?
How is redemption a transformation?
What does redemption feel like?
Why at times do we not feel like redemption is real (in the face of the world's suffering)?
Is redemption figurative or literal?
What is the relationship of Jesus to redemption for christianity?
What is the Eucharist?

Our work is not within the walls of a church or temple, but being in this broken world, because the world has not yet been transformed or redeemed, we become the actors to reset our intention and act on behalf of God to tend to the marginalized and those suffering.

Redemption does not erase pain or death.

Jesus' ministry was the primary healing to the marginalized, the example set that we become actors in redemption, our world becomes God work to redeem the world.

The world is upside down, our work becomes to right the inversion of the world through love and care.

Biography

Reverend Amanda Barker is the Curate at St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church in Boulder.

A Curate is a fancy term used in The Episcopal Church, meaning she's an assistant priest and in her first call and congregation.

She grew up in the church and became a priest in 2024 after receiving her Master of Divinity from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific.
Amanda’s background is in the nonprofit sector, where she worked for two decades with various groups on land conservation and historic preservation action in Colorado.

At the start of her career, she served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Madagascar.

She now lives in Boulder with her husband and two stepchildren.

When she’s not at church, she's cooking, reading, and traveling to new places and to her favorite people, and she has become an avid backyard birdwatcher.