At the local Mosque: Sharing Love with our Muslim Neighbors

Holding signs of support, we Jews gathered at the local Muslim mosque as part of an interfaith group of the faithful and other community leaders.

9 years ago

Text To My Children, On the Inauguration

I sent this text to my children, on Inauguration Day - 1/20/17

9 years ago

How to Fix the World: Wisdom from Men’s Night Out

A group of men gathered at Congregation Or Ami's Men's Night Out, and took up Dr. King's challenge. We asked "What are our responsibilities as men to our community, our country and or world?"

9 years ago

Helping the Heart See What the Eyes Cannot Perceive

Think how much of life we miss when we cannot really see! Though our eyes may function quite well, our hearts and minds may impede their ability to find blessing in what is before them. This is precisely what happens to our patriarch Jacob.

9 years ago

Delivering Sufganiot to the Whole Congregation: Why We Do It

Why do we spend a Sunday morning just before Chanukah driving all over the San Fernando and Conejo Valleys delivering boxes of sufganiot to every Congregation Or Ami household?

9 years ago

Celebrating the Risk of Caring: Childspree

Child spree: They were at-risk youth, searching for something new and not risky, to clothe them and keep them warm.
We were comfortable suburbanites, seeking something meaningful and momentous, to clothe us in compassion and warm us from the chill of indifference.

9 years ago

When the Lights Went Out during the Bar Mitzvah

Adin becomes a Bar Mitzvah by candlelight when the power went out. And the lessons learned were powerful.

9 years ago

Prayer for After the Election

A prayer for after the Election

10 years ago

Mitzvah Day Video – Are you Ready to Volunteer

Volunteering to pack comfort bags on Mitzvah Day for children entering the foster care system is one step on the path to peace. Show up at Congregation Or Ami on November 6th.

10 years ago

Holding Torah During Kol Nidre

Brad Halpern of Congregation Or Ami, Calabasas, CA reflects on the meaning of holding Torah on Kol Nidre.

10 years ago

Teens Take Over High Holy Day Children’s Services

Wouldn’t your heart soar too, if children left the High Holy Day children’s program and services kvelling? When older teens lead and mentor younger teen leaders, they felt energized as they passed on the responsibility of Jewish educational leadership to their younger peers?

10 years ago

Is Torah True? Part 2

Is Torah true? It really depends on your definition of the word "true." I am not parsing words here. The truth of Torah truly depends on what we mean by truth.