Last night, I had the honor of leading a Selichot program at my home congregation, The Temple. Over the course of two hours our congregation gathered in a generous and engaged spirit for study, spiritual writing, and worship. It was a special evening for me personally because I was able to integrate three passions of […]
Holidays
The Naivety of Hate- Tisha b’Av
Today’s Hebrew calendar date is the 9th of Av (Tisha b’Av). Tisha b’Av is a day of mourning. It commemorates the destruction of the 1st and 2nd Temples in Jerusalem. It commemorates other tragedies in Jewish history. There are many reasons given for the destruction of the 2nd Temple. There are military reasons, economic […]
Film Review: On the Map
What does it mean to be a part of something greater than yourself? What does it mean to live a life of meaning? What does it mean to be a Jew? An Israeli? These and other profound questions are raised by “On the Map,” (2016) an excellent documentary written and directed by Dani Menkin. “On […]
A Sukkah of Peace
For the last couple of years we’ve had “themed” Sukkahs at The Davis Academy. This year’s theme is: Sukkat Shlomeicha (Sukkah of God’s Peace). Or more colloquially, “The Peace Sukkah.” I’m really excited about it. The inspiration for this theme comes from a Jewish prayer called, “Hashkiveinu.” It is one of many (many) Jewish prayers […]
A Rosh Hashanah Prayer
a good year a sweet year a caring year a kind year a listening year a connecting year a year of truth a year of strength a year of balance a year of peace a year of breathing a year of stretching a year of reaching a year of grasping a year of seeing […]
Judge (#BlogElul 19)
No one had to appoint you judge, jury, and executioner. You took that upon yourself. Like the protagonist in a Kafka story. Now you’re banging the gavel, viewing yourself through the eyes of 12 strange and unseeing peers, and dawning the black hood of your own premature demise. And like a character only Kafka […]