What do we do with the verses in Torah that seem to explicitly exclude people with physical disabilities? Need they be read literally, as an illustration of how we might intentionally marginalize such members of our communities?
I have a niece, Yonina, who made aliyah and lives in Israel. Yonina serves as an officer in the Israel Defense Forces reserves. This summer, I watched the war in Gaza through her eyes.
Each Rosh Hashanah, we read the horrid tale of the Akedah (Genesis 22), the almost sacrifice of Isaac by Abraham. Commentators throughout the ages characterize this story as an example of the heights of faith. Abraham loved God so much he was willing to give up the child he waited so long to bear. But …
I sit here up at Faculty Row of the URJ Camp Newman (Santa Rosa, CA) as Shabbat evening comes to an end. We just finished enjoying an inspirational all camp service, delicious dinner by Tammy, awesome brownies for dessert, a raucous song session under the stars and an energetic (read “exhausting” hour of Israeli dance. Now …
Or Ami college student Sydney Epstein writes: On May 22, I jetted off for what turned out to be the most incredible experience. Birthright allows you to reconnect with your Jewish heritage in the Holy Land itself. After a long 12-hour plane ride along with 40 other peers, I finally landed in Israel. Immediately following, …
Ever have one of those moments when your child reaches out to you and all you really want to do is collapse from exhaustion? It happens at home and it happens at camp. So what do you do? I am up here at URJ Camp Newman, the Reform movement camp in Santa Rosa, CA, leading …
We parents love to shower our children with gifts. The appearance of a wrapped presents can stop even the most rambunctious children in their tracks. After a quick intake of breath, eyes go wide and squeals of excitement quickly follow. Some children then engage in frenzied activity, tearing off the wrapping paper, while others slowly …
Two, 4, 6, 8 … What comes next? Once you recognize this as a sequence of even numbers, counted by twos, then you know that the numbers 10 and 12 come next. Two, 3, 5, 7, 11 … What comes next? This sequence of prime numbers (numbers divisible only by themselves and 1) continues with …
A Teaching by Rabbi Julia Weisz Rabbi Weisz is my partner-rabbi at Congregation Or Ami, Calabasas, CA. Several Saturdays a year, thirty at-risk youth from Panorama City step out of vans onto the beautifully kept green grass parks of Calabasas. Or Ami teenagers greet them, whistles around their necks, and act as their coaches for …
Working with teenagers is simply heartwarming. We experienced this yet again at our recent Havdala Under the Stars, Congregation Or Ami’s year-end gathering of our Triple T (Tracks for Temple Teens) youth program. Picture this: a large group of teens – 7th to 12th grades – sitting around a campfire, singing songs, playing games, and grouping …
Passover invites us to place ourselves within the story of the Exodus from Egypt. In the Haggadah we read: Bechol or vador chayav adam lirote et atzmo k’eelu hunyatzah mimitzrayim – in each and every generation a person must see him/herself as if he/she went forth from Egypt. The Seder calls us to journey personally …
I’m just back from the Central Conference of American Rabbis convention, a gathering of 600 Reform Rabbis from all over the United States, Canada, Israel, Europe, South America and elsewhere. Four fabulous days of inspiring worship, thought-provoking speakers, pastoral skill-building sessions, and insightful study of our Jewish texts. I return home with Evernote(books) filled with …
I have so much hair… It may not look like much, what with my crown peaking through. But I’m really okay with my unadorned cranium. Because, compared with kids with cancer, I’m really one hairy dude. So when I was asked to put my few follicles on the line to raise awareness and funds to …
It’s time to talk about religion and abortion. It’s time to talk about religion and sexuality. It’s time to talk about religion and justice. I PLEDGE TO CHANGE THE CONVERSATION For too long, the extreme religious right has dominated public conversation about religion and sexuality in this country. As a result, an unprecedented number of …
[Cross posted at the Jewish Journal] Where is God, and what does the Holy One want from us? These timeless questions animate so many of us spiritual seekers. Of course, there are better places to look for an answer than in this week’s Torah portion, Tzav (Leviticus 6:1-8:36), unless you consider barbecuing as divine service. If …