(Photos top row from the left: Rabbi Steve Chester, Rabbi Rebecca Gutterman, Rabbi Daniel Stein and bottom row from the left: Rabbi Chaya Gusfield, Rabbi Yonatan Cohen) God Talk with Rabbis from Across the Jewish Denominations Rabbis talk about God quite a bit. But what role does God plays in the lives of our rabbis?…
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I was given this article, A Sacred Obligation, by a Catholic priest many years ago. I love the very rabbinic way in which they ask questions of God in regard to Jews and Judaism. There are some very meaningful questions and answers that may comfort or reassure individuals whose children marry a Jew and raise…
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Each week synagogues read the weekly Torah portion and rabbis seek modern meaning in ancient words. This week Rabbi Chester, interim rabbi at Temple Isaiah this year, used the portion to look at our modern political situation. It’s worth reading. Parshat Toldot: Genesis 25:19 – 28:9 I am one who believes that some things…
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Rabbi Larry Milder of Beth Emek in Pleasanton addressed this question in an email to his members. I like his very through answer and I’m sharing it with you here. Tallit in the Morning You walk into the synagogue for services and see a basket of tallitot, prayer shawls. Do you pick one up?…
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Dear Dawn: I’m the daughter of a Jewish father and non-Jewish mother who raised me with no religion. Finding my way into Judaism has been difficult and, at times, painful. My partner, Tom, was raised Christian and is now an atheist. While he has warm feelings for his church, he no longer belongs. When discussing how…
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There is nothing so satisfying as learning a new perspective on a story you thought you understood. This week I read Maggid Jhos Singer‘s drash/teaching on the Torah portion Korach (Numbers 16:1-18:32). This is the story of Korach and his rebellion against Moses in the Wilderness. I’ve heard it taught many times, but Jhos brought…
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