Although we started out with the smallest guest list in years, we ended up with the most well attended Seder that we have ever hosted. Thanks to technology, tradition and trust, we had more people at our Seder table than ever before. Technology Although our family is spread all over the globe, we managed to …
In preparation for Passover, the festival commemorating our people’s passage from oppression to freedom, from fear to faith, I signed on to this letter by Reform CA, to pass the Trust Act in California (here’s a backgrounder on the Trust Act): The imperative of Jewish history commands us to speak out loudly. As a wandering …
It is easy to condemn the views of others. We Jews particularly need not be afraid or enraged when someone makes theological claims that challenge our views. Unlike extremists in other religious groups, Jews allow for every argument about and with God. I faced just that situation when a rabbi I did not know called …
It is rare indeed when a rabbi has a free Shabbat (Sabbath). With 54 B’nai Mitzvah a year, I joyously find myself in the sanctuary almost every Shabbat, being inspired by our young people as they lead services, chant from Torah and teach us about the intersection between Torah and life. When a Shabbat comes …
Alden Solovy is a talented psalmist/liturgist/poet. A great guy too. On his website, http://tobendlight.com he shares new prayers written for so many of those unique moments which call out to be marked with a blessing. His words capture the yearning of our hearts. Today’s he writes: This is a prayer for use by a woman …
Person: “Rabbi, what can I do to make my days feel more meaningful?” Rabbi: “Try some mitzvot and Jewish spiritual practices.” What’s a spiritual practice? A spiritual practice refers to regular, purposeful actions we do in order to transform our lives from everyday regularity and habit into sacred, meaningful moments. Whether chosen from the 613 …
Patti Jo Wolfson, beloved faculty member and master teacher at Congregation Or Ami in Calabasas, attended the recent National Policy Conference of the America-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). She wrote this letter to the community: I’ve just returned from the 2013 AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington DC. This was my 7th Policy conference and each …
A paradigm shift is overtaking the American Reform Rabbinate. This is not the first time we have encountered such seismic pressures; yet the intensity far surpasses anything I have before experienced in my 21 years as a rabbi. Uniquely, the annual convention of the Central Conference of American Rabbis confronted these shifts head on. The …
So much work to be done, classes to prepare for, articles to write, administration to supervise, and yet I am going away for four days to the national convention of the Central Conference of American Rabbis. Why? Innovation Requires Retreat Time for Reflection To serve as rabbi of an innovative, engaging 21st century religious institution …
Ever wonder how we as Jews might deal with the bad things that happen? In my inbox appeared this Torah Reflections on the Hebrew Month of Nisan, written by Dorothy A. Richman of the Bay Area Jewish Healing Center. Such wisdom here! [BTW: The month of Spring and of Passover begins as the Rosh Hodesh New …
Cotler, Weisz & Kipnes: Clergy Rockers We laughed so hard. At Cantor Doug Cotler’s cleverly funny songs, at Rabbi Julia Weisz’s ridiculously hysterical costumes, at Rabbi Paul Kipnes’ inappropriate yet Purimly-acceptable riffs on Megillat Esther, the story of Purim. We laughed out loud, belly laughed. And in between, we reflected on lessons of transcendent importance. …
Worked with an insightful Bar Mitzvah student to make sense of his Torah portionSent our youngest son off to Israel with his schoolSpoke with prominent Rabbi about creating a Jewish religious voice to help reform CaliforniaConsidered new ideas about engaging men and parents of teensTaught B’nai Mitzvah students and random kids around templeAnswered emailWeighed church/state …
The most amazing things happen when we bring together 1000 teens for five days for the convention of the North American Federation of Temple Youth, one of the largest gatherings of Jewish teens anywhere. It is the way that these teens open up about the pressures, worries, fear and self-doubt that bubble just beneath the …
Teens can be so surprisingly inspiring. At home, we sometimes used to struggle to feed balanced meals to our 3 teenagers. Imagine trying to feed 1000 as these Jewish teens sat together to for Shabbat dinner. And that was only the beginning. We are gathered at a hotel in Los Angeles for the NFTY Convention, …
How do we save the Jewish people? With more Jewish day schools or more creative religious education? With greater outreach to interfaith families? By transforming the B’nai Mitzvah process? Or by focusing on Jews in their 20’s and 30’s? Yes, yes, yes and yes. Much has been written about each endeavor, and undoubtedly we will …