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On Reconciliation

04/27/2018 08:57:36 PM

Apr27

The following story was shared with me by Rabbi David Wolpe:

A Hasidic parable tells of a king who quarreled with his son. In a fit of rage, the king exiled his son from the kingdom. Years passed, and the son wandered alone through the world. In time, the king's heart softened, so he sent his ministers to find his son and ask him to return. When they located the young man, he said that he could not return to the kingdom. He...Read more...

On Grace

04/06/2018 04:00:00 AM

Apr6

I have heard the same story twice in one week, so I saw it as a sign to share:

A person is going 90 mph in a 60 mph zone. The cop pulls the person over. If the cop gives a ticket, that is justice. If the cop gives a warning, that is mercy. If the cop gives you a crispy crème doughnut that is grace.

There is a phrase throughout the bible Matzah Chel B'enei (to find favor in the eyes of...) Sometimes we find favor...Read more...

"People prepare. God laughs."

03/23/2018 04:00:00 AM

Mar23

This past Wednesday I had scheduled my whole day around the idea of a terrible storm and then no storm was forthcoming. This made me think of a teaching from Rabbi Hillel in Pirkei avot, Ethics of our Fathers, that says. "Do not be certain of yourself until the day of your death".

For all that I think I know, moments like Wednesday come along to remind me just how unpredictable life really is. If any lesson comes from this...Read more...

Where do we find God?

03/16/2018 04:00:00 AM

Mar16

Where do we find God? Solomon Ibn Gabirol, an 11th century Jewish poet and philosopher from Spain, offers an answer from his understanding of the Barechu prayer:

Three things there are, together in my eye
That keep the thought of thee forever nigh.
I think about thy great and holy name
Whenever I look up and see the sky.
My thoughts are roused to know how I was made,
Seeing the earth's...Read more...

A Different Purim Story

03/03/2018 04:16:53 AM

Mar3

As this past week was Purim I wanted to share one of my favorite Purim stories from the Talmud. This is the story as told from myjewishlearning.com:
"Rabbah and R. Zeira got together for Purim Seudah (the feast on the afternoon of Purim). They got very drunk, and Rabbah got up and cut R. Zeira's throat (literally, Rabbah butchered him). The next day, Rabbah prayed on R. Zeira's behalf and brought him back to life. A year later,...Read more...

Do not use your mask to hide...

02/23/2018 05:00:00 AM

Feb23

Purim is a holiday of costumes and masks. Masks are an interesting item. They can help us express ourselves or hide who we are from the world. Either way they are a conduit for communicating with the outside world. Masks can allow us to be forgotten or can leave an indelible mark on those who view them. We wear masks all the time. Not just physical ones but spiritual ones as well. What is it your "masks" are communicating to the outside...Read more...

Knowledge of How

02/16/2018 05:00:00 AM

Feb16

For the past few weeks on Sunday morning I have been working with the kids on active listening. I have asked them to do a special exercise whenever we get to the Shemah. I ask the kids to pair off. I have one child be the talker and the other the listener. The listener is not allowed to say anything in response to the talker. After a minute I have them switch.

This past weekend I added a new wrinkle. I told the listener they...Read more...

Stronger together

02/09/2018 04:00:00 AM

Feb9

This past week I was in Maryland for a training called the Brickner Fellowship. The Brickner Fellowship is a collection of clergy who apply and come together to learn how to bring social justice planning and programming to our communities. I learned a lot this week and look forward to sharing the many conversations and sessions I had with you over the coming months and years. For now I would like to share with you the final teaching of the...Read more...

What makes a person's life meaningful?

01/12/2018 05:00:00 AM

Jan12

What makes a person's life meaningful?  Is it the acquisition of objects? Or is a meaningful life found in things like getting married, having children, getting a good job and buying a house?  The answer is yes, but only if one criterion is met in achieving these things.  I propose that this criterion is found in looking forward in time and answering a simple question:  Did I take advantage of these moments to...Read more...

Biennial 2017

12/15/2017 05:00:00 AM

Dec15

With Biennial 2017 a recent memory and Biennial 2019 two years away (December 11-15, 2019 to be exact). I thought it appropriate to share some of the great quotes from this past year's Biennial experience that our delegation walked away with:

"Be the light"

"Continue persisting"

"I never thought we would need a modifier for the word...Read more...

Tue, April 22 2025 24 Nisan 5785