Rabbis Paul Kipnes (Congregation Or Ami, Calabasas), Rick Winer (Temple Beth Israel, Fresno) and Laura Novak Winer (Jewish Educational consultant) drove in minivan for the ride back from the Pacific Area Reform Rabbis (PARR) conference. Rick’s driving, Laura’s navigating and Paul’s typing. We all reflected on what we gained from 4 days with 160 rabbis …
God’s Name is a Four-Letter Word
What is God’s Name? According to Torah, God is a four-letter word. These four Hebrew letters – Yud-Hey-Vav-Hey – represent, according to Jewish tradition, the proper name of God. Just as my father is an accountant whose name is Ken, so too God is a God, whose name is … Yud-Hey-Vav-Hey or in Hebrew, יהוה …
How Reciting Shema Can Save a Kid’s Life
Shema. More than a prayer, it is a bold theological statement. More than a verse from Torah, it is an idea which goes to the heart of what it means to be a Jew. The Shema holds a power that is mystical. A Story …about an incident at the San Diego airport. A police officer …
A Teen with Asperger’s Tells Her Story to Her Peers
On the TV show Parenthood, teenager Max has Asperger’s Syndrome. While running for student body president, Max tells his classmates about his Asperger’s. The episode is riveting television, but not quite as poignant as when one of our Congregation Or Ami teens stepped up before her peers and shared her own Asperger’s story. It all …
New Year’s Re-SOUL-utions
New Years – for me, mostly Rosh Hashana – provides the opportunity to look back on the past year and to measure the distance between who I am and who I wanted to be, between where I am and where I wanted to be. And then to figure out what I need to do to …
Or Ami has an On Site Social Worker
We all need help sometimes. Now our Henaynu Caring Community makes it even easier – and more personal. If you’re dealing with economic problems, or the challenge of helping an elderly parent or a teen in trouble, you’re not alone. If you need support as you go through a separation, search for a new job, …
Zichronam Livracha – For their Memory shall be a Blessing
Today I signed onto a petition, organized by the Jewish Council of Public Affairs, responding to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in Newton, CT. I invite each of you to consider : On Friday December 14, a gunman armed with three high-powered firearms and high-capacity magazines walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, …
Creating an Interfaith Extended Family: How to Be A Good In-Law | Reform Judaism
From what I hear, it is very challenging to be a good in-law when your child is part of an interfaith family. Between Christmas, Chanukah, and more, grandparents tiptoe through minefields. Walking on eggshells can be easy in comparison. Thankfully, Arlene Chernow, Associate Engagement Director for the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ)’s Expanding our …
Counting Down the Miracles at Or Ami
Dear Friends: As Congregation Or Ami enters its 16th year and the Jewish world begins its 8 nights of Chanukah, we – your president, rabbis and cantor – rededicate ourselves to this incredible Jewish community. 16 years ago, Grammy award winning Cantor Doug Cotler was engaged as the first clergy member of a new community, …
“I’m not really religious, Rabbi,” Dave Admitted. “I’m more of a cultural Jew.”
“I’m not really religious, Rabbi,” Dave admitted. “I’m more of a cultural Jew.” Long before Jon Stewart said that he was “Jew-ish,” we Jews have struggled with our identity. Are we a religious group or a people? Is being Jewish a cultural thing or an ethnic identification? Most Jews, with the exception of Orthodox Jews, …
My Niece – a 1st Lieutenant in the IDF – Has Been Called Up to Protect Israel. What are You Doing?
My niece Yonina, a 1st lieutenant, is part of the 75,000-100,000 reservist called up to the Israel Defense Forces. She is somewhere dangerous, doing something important. And Hamas IS shooting at her. She wants us to remember that this conflict did not start with Israel pinpoint bombing in Gaza. In the last year, over 850 missiles …
Comfort Bags for Foster Kids Bring Comforting Meaning to Mitzvah Doers
Under the watchful eyes of Mitzvah Day chairs Laurie Tragen-Boykoff and Cathy Spencer and thirty volunteers, Congregation Or Ami’s Mitzvah Day created 325 Comfort Bags filled with new clothes, toiletries, books, games, journals, toys, a decorated “sweet dreams” pillowcase and a personalized card. The Comfort Bags have been given to social workers who will give them …
Former Foster Child Reflects Upon Receiving Mitzvah Day Comfort Bag
Ever wonder how our Mitzvah Day “Comfort Bags” impact the lives of the kids who receive them. The 325 “Comfort Bags” we create are handed to children as they are removed from their homes to protect them from abuse or neglect. They enter the foster care system with little to nothing, except the “Comfort Bag” …
A Prayer for Flood-filled Days
A Prayer for Flood-filled Days by Rabbi Paul J. Kipnes, Congregation Or Ami, Calabasas, CA Eloheinu velohei avoteinu v’imoteinu, Our God and God of our fathers and mothers, The flood waters came, wreaking havoc upon our cities, our homes, our rescue workers, our sense of security, And we turn to You for comfort and …
3 Jewish Institutions Collaborate on 1 Amazing Dr. Wendy Mogel Lecture
Walking out of the lecture by Dr. Wendy Mogel on “Raising Resilient Kids”, one couldn’t help but be changed. The author of Blessings of a Skinned Knee and Blessings of a B- regaled the assembled adults with stories of parenting gone wild and confidently, sometimes sarcastically reminded us to let our kids be kids. Perfection …