Can you Get us a Kidney? A kidney?? In the context of reaching out through our Henaynu Caring Community committee, I have been asked to help arrange many things: meals for a family whose mother was hospitalized, rides for an elderly member to services, volunteers to set out a shiva meal following a funeral, community …
Turning to the Israeli Supreme Court
By Anat Hoffman, Executive Director, Israel Religious Action Center Cross posted at IRAC.org Education is fundamental to the Jewish soul. As a people we have fought to be able to continue learning even in the most difficult circumstances. In Israel, we are fortunate to have top-quality Jewish and secular education. Learning into adulthood is not …
When ‘just be good’ isn’t enough
Cross Posted at the Jewish Journal “Why all these values, rabbi?” preteen Josh asked. “Can’t you just say we should be good people?” Often it is the most basic questions that set me thinking, and Josh’s query sure did. My wife, Michelle November, and I are at Camp Newman, a Reform Jewish summer camp in …
Writing in the Sand, Stepping Toward Forgiveness
The Hebrew month of Elul begins, and with it comes a month of daily opportunities to right the wrongs we have done. Our main tasks of this month are two-fold: to ask forgiveness for those we have harmed, and to offer forgiveness to those who have harmed us. Clearly the winds of forgiveness should blow …
What I Love about Camp Newman: Or Ami Campers Respond
My wife Michelle and I gathered our Congregation Or Ami campers together for another of our summer “Torah study meetings” in our cabin. These young people had been at Camp Newman for two weeks. We looked forward to the opportunity to see them all (and to eat delicious junk food). I asked our teens to …
A Prayer for Physicians
Too many who are dear to me (and to our congregation) of necessity must turn to their physicians to help chart the course of their futures. For the doctors of Steve and Craig and Mike and Jill and Ken and Craig and Teri and Aidan and… and… and…, we pray. Doctors (and other caregivers) are …
For Many Jewish Youth, Gay Marriage is a New Normal
I woke early one morning in June to hear the decisions of the United States Supreme Court on a pair of cases about marriage equality. Joy mixed with disappointment. I celebrated the return of marriage equality to the State of California and the effective end of the ill-named Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) through the …
Drumming our Way to a Spiritual Shabbat
Ken Meyer Leads the Drumming (All Pictures by Michael Kaplan) We learn in Torah that Miriam took a timbrel in her hand and led the Israelite women sing, as they, her brother Moses and the Israelite men crossed through Yam Suf, the Sea of Reeds. We regularly tout the spiritual uplift that comes from music …
Rabbis Are Parents Too! Naming Noam Privately and Publicly
Picture by Michael Kaplan I have officiated at more than 100 britot (brises) for newborn baby boys and girls (and plenty of older adopted children as well). None made me more nervous than the bris I recently led. Ask anyone about my anxiousness. My office assistants would laugh as they shared how concerned I was …
Rabbi Nancy Wechsler-Azen Kvells about Camp Newman
Rabbi Nancy Wechsler-Azen, of Congregation Beth Shalom (Carmichael, CA), recently returned from two weeks as rabbinic faculty at URJ Camp Newman in Santa Rosa, CA. She sent us this letter about her amazing experience: Dear Camp Newman Leadership: As I reflect on my two weeks as rabbinic faculty for the 6-7th grade session Shomrim, I …
URJ Kutz Camp Set Me On My Jewish Path
That’s me at the front of the boat You could say that the texture of my life was molded during six summers I spent at the URJ Kutz Camp: NFTY Leadership Experience. Those summers – two as a Program Participant, two as a Resident Advisor/Program Director, and two as Head RA – set my life …
Breaking Down Walls of Silence
Our Biblical prophets worried about people who lived on the margins of society. With fiery exhortations, Isaiah, Amos and Micah implored ancient Israelites to take care of those who need help to take care of themselves. They spoke of God’s demand that we break down walls of silence and invite those on the margins into …
“Mom, My Wife is Not as Good as You”
Does Your Spouse/Partner AlsoLack Back Scratching Skills? My mother has begun a ritual that is simultaneously heartwarming and challenging. She has organized all the papers that she collected over the years. Recently, she presented me with a scrapbook which included my school report cards, drawings from grade school, a variety of essays, doctor’s growth reports …
Why I Gained Weight at Camp Newman (a camp food confession)
Salad Bar Smiles I wish I could say my days at URJ Camp Newman were consumed with bouts of hunger. I wish I could say that at Camp Newman there was nothing to eat, that the food sucked, that the camp could not accommodate my picky palate, or that I refused to eat the usual …
Where to Get the Best Drugs at Camp Newman (and Other Secrets of Summer Camp)
Worried that your kid will come to camp and discover a hidden underground culture of drugs? Don’t. Why? Because at Camp Newman, the location of the biggest drug stash is a well known secret. In fact, this being California, first day camper orientation includes an explanation of when and how you can get your fix. …