The Jewish annual cycle was established thousands of years ago and to this day the holidays are concentrated on one side of the year – NOT summer. Summer is for agricultural tasks – ancient Jews had to go out and tend the crops and the herds. But this quiet summer time can be a lovely…
Read More »Community
Divvy up Holiday responsibilities
Do you have holidays that are ‘assigned’ to a particular family member or friend? That is, we’ll all be at Susan’s for Thanksgiving, at Mom’s for Chanukah and we’ll meet the Tanners in the park for our 4th of July picnic. Some years ago I figured out that while I have lots of wonderful…
Read More »Shifting Traditions: A film & discussion
In the short film, Shifting Traditions, three interfaith couples take three different approaches to religion in their family. Then the film maker speaks with some rabbis who reflect differing views on intermarriage. Is there a right and a wrong? Come see the film and discuss the choices and rewards that are open to every interfaith…
Read More »The Fifth New Year + A life of meaning
A synagogue group goes to the ballgame together Does your life have meaning? Tomorrow we will all begin writing 2013 on paperwork. Jewish or not, a new year begins for us all at midnight on December 31. Many of us make resolutions; we will – lose weight, start jogging, clean out the closet, tidy up…
Read More »Take some time to get Connected
After the rush of the holidays comes this long quiet period – no more Jewish holidays until Chanukah which begins Dec. 8 this year. That leaves a lot of time for those families who find the Christmas – Chanukah period to be a challenge to think it through. Feel free to give me a…
Read More »Homer & Moses: Poets of their People
Join us at the Berkeley Rep production of An Iliad! Imagine this. . . a religion that focuses on this world, not the next; a theology with angry gods who interact with humans. A tradition that is perpetuated in an illiterate society by men who sing the story in formulaic music and words. This describes…
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