When terrible things happen we want our spiritual leaders to find meaning in what seems meaningless. Rabbi Steve Chester recently sent this message to his congregation of Temple Israel. He leans more on actions than on faith. Maybe you feel that way also. The last few months have been very difficult ones for many of…
Read More »A meaningful life
A Rabbi Reflects on a Jewish Response to Our Violent World
Reflections on Texas Attack During our services this past Shabbat, I offered a prayer: that the sense of normalization we feel around acts of senseless violence soon end. It feels as though each month is punctuated with unimaginable pain. After last week’s attacks in New York and Texas, words fail us. There are no words…
Read More »I’m not Fasting this Yom Kippur, instead I’m following Jewish law
I can’t fast this year. I’ve been sick for about five days and I know that fasting with result in my falling face first onto the synagogue floor. Everyone who rushed to me would end up scolding me for being so ridiculous. So, I’m circumventing that and not fasting. A lot of people think that…
Read More »Seeds of Light
I want to share with you a beautiful piece that Jhos Singer sent out to his community, Chochmat Halev. It is a reminder to take time to notice the blessings around you. Slow down, enjoy this life. There are seeds of light planted everywhere if you can see them Shabbat Shalom Chaverim, There is a…
Read More »Should we all be the same?
Have you ever felt out of step with those around you? Sometimes, even among those we love most, we feel “different.” I witnessed several experiences of that this week. In the first, I read Cantor Jennie Chabon‘s beautiful drash, “Is God the one thing?” When my brother was in college, he and his friends began…
Read More »Adoption in Jewish and Interfaith Families
The number of Jewish and interfaith families who are adopting children is significant. Often these children are not Caucasian. As one very sweet Catholic social worker put it, “Jews don’t seem to mind what color their children are.” We take that as a big compliment! How do parents give their adopted child a feeling of…
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