Jewish tradition teaches, “Rejoice in your holy days, and may your holy days be joyous.” As it turns out, Judaism has dozens of words that are all synonyms for “celebrate.” Simcha, rina, ditza, oneg… These are just a few. We learn a
How we remember
How we remember says a lot about who we are– as individuals, as communities, as societies. This week marked Israel’s 67th Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day). The exact number of fallen soldiers and victims of terrorist attacks is read. Traditional prayers
Passover questions 2015
How is it we can eat all we want of meat and vegetables but no bread? I don’t think the Jewish people had lots of food in the desert. What is your favorite part about Passover? What does it mean
Passover questions 2014
What non- tourist places should we see in Israel this summer? In light of the conflict in the Ukraine, what do you think the US role should be as it relates to world conflicts? Best advice about raising kids in
If the thunder don’t get ya…
One of the most interesting Grateful Dead tunes is “The Wheel.” It’s interesting musically and lyrically. It contains the lyric, “If the thunder don’t get ya then the lightning will.” Definitely a worldview expressed in that line! I thought of
Passover questions 2013
A few years ago my wife and I started a Passover tradition of gathering discussion questions from the folks at the seder we host in our home. Over the course of the seder we pull out some of the questions
Next year
Next year less broken less fearful less petty Next year less scattered less distracted less mad Next year less apathetic less complacent less lazy Next year less beholden less encumbered less saddled Next year in Jerusalem Next year more liberated
Judaism is a conversation
Judaism is a conversation– sometimes mundane, sometimes sacred, sometimes calm, sometimes agitated, sometimes harmonious, sometimes discordant. I wish more Jews and more people generally understood how important their voices are to the conversation that is Judaism. That’s why I wholeheartedly
Box of Rain Allegory
Yet another chapter in the Grateful Dead Passover genre… A few months back I had a chance to share the world-changingly beautiful tune, “Box of Rain” with a group of middle school students. In looking at the lyrics I asked
Grateful Passover
So I’m a not-so-secret Dead Head. Which means that every once in a while there’s a Grateful Dead lyric or tune that gets stuck in my head. Here’s an example… “Big boss man, can’t you hear me when I call?