Someone told me that Aug. 26 is National Dog Day. I have a dog! I’ve had dogs, cats, rats, fish, and chickens. I feel very possessive of the hummingbirds I shelter in my garden. My next thought was what does Judaism teach about the treatment of animals? In ancient times animals were not pets, they…
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This week Rabbi Milder’s congregational email comments on the Jewish mindset of Elul. It is the month that leads us into the High Holidays. Its tone is often subdued. We are about to approach God to ask for forgiveness for our past missteps (the Hebrew word does not translate as “sin” but as “missing the…
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A big question for many interfaith parents is HOW to give their child a Jewish identity, or even simply sufficient knowledge to choose a Jewish identity. Research has found that there are three key elements. Jewish Education. If you don’t know how Judaism works, how to “do” Judaism, you can’t very well feel that it…
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One of the bay area synagogues recently sent out these three links to assist their members in renewing or learning the details of Jewish mourning. There are the kind of things you want to know in advance. Interfaith couples should consider whether these practices have meaning for the Jewish partner as well as whether they…
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August 11th is BAY MITZVAH at the Oakland Ballers! When I spoke to the Ballers rep to ask about the give-away he volunteered that he too is Jewish and engaged to a non-Jewish woman! That’s right, we’re everywhere! There will be a Jewish section so we can all hangout together. Things I love about minor…
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Can God be depicted visually? Does God have a form? If you read the words of the Hebrew bible literally it appears to answer, “Yes.” What new readers don’t know is that the Torah is written and interpreted on four levels (Pardes) and the first level is Pshat (the literal level). But Pshat is for the…
Read More »Our weekly email goes out to hundreds of interfaith couples & families in the Bay Area. Topics cover the many questions and mysteries that interfaith couples want answered.