An argument broke out at the temple. A bunch of people approached the rabbi inquiring, “Just what did God say to Moses at Mt. Sinai?” One group was sure that God gave Moses the whole Torah, reciting every single word. That is what they see whenever the rabbi dressed up as Moses, carrying the Torah …
Or Ami Chorale Sings Cantor Doug Cotler’s Shalom Aleichem
Cantor Doug Cotler’s Shalom Aleichem as sung by the Or Ami Chorale. What a Beautiful Shabbat. Shalom Aleichem from Michael G. Kaplan on Vimeo. You may also follow this link.
Reform Movement Speaks Up as Komen De-funds Planned Parenthood
Recently, Susan G. Komen for the Cure announced it would cease all funding to Planned Parenthood Federation of America. I signed a letter asking the organization to reconsider and sharing my own disappointment and anger. This resulted from the most cynical gamesmanship and election year politics. I am pleased that the Union for Reform Judaism’s leadership, …
Moses Wasn’t a White Boy
I love the look on the faces of our students when I point out to them that Moses could not have had the pinkish white skin that I have. First their brows furrow, then they go wide, then they smile with understanding and agreement. Since Moses descended from people born in Canaan (with ancestry harkening back …
MY Best Day, Hanging with Dan Nichols
My son Noah, 9th grader at New Community Jewish High School and avid NFTYite and Camp Newman alum, is guest blogging about his day with Dan Nichols: Wow, what a day. I started off doing homework so I cold devote my day to hanging with [Jewish singer] Dan Nichols. My mom and I picked Dan …
“You All Are Going to Die,” Said the Rabbi to the 3rd-6th Graders. Appropriate or Not?
“You all are going to die!” said the rabbi to his 3rd thru 6th grade students. It was all part of a day of death and dying at Congregation Or Ami’s Mishpacha Learning session. While Rabbi Julia Weisz walked parents through the Jewish rituals and ideas about death and mourning and Cantor Doug Cotler taught Jewish …
What Does Being “Pro-Israel” Look Like: A Dozen or More Diverse Answers
Sometimes when we argue about heartfelt subjects, we discuss them with a sense of mutual respect and of eilu v’eilu divrei Elohim chayim (both of these opinions are for the sake of Heaven). At other times, when the stakes seem so high, we become convinced that our way is the right way, the blessed way, …
Thanks, Roe v. Wade: You Are One of the Best Things to Happen in my Life
Happy anniversary Roe v. Wade. You are one of the best things that happened in my life! Yes, today is the 39th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court ruling. On January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court said, in simple terms, that women have a constitutional right to privacy to make decisions about …
Andrew Adler Should be Arrested, Tried and Jailed
Late yesterday I came upon an article in Haaretz which described the controversy surrounding the editorial written by the owner and publisher of the Atlanta Jewish Times, Andrew Adler. As reported in Haaretz, Adler write vile words: The owner and publisher of the Atlanta Jewish Times, Andrew Adler, has suggested that Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin …
Most Parents Monitor Their Kids’ Facebook, and You Should Too!
Most parents (especially of younger children) are on Facebook, monitor their kids’ Facebook pages, and even have their passwords. We insisted that our kids “friend” us and provide us with the widest access to their Facebook feeds. This allowed us to monitor their use during homework (and bedtime), and to ensure they were being “appropriate.” …
Bruce Springsteen, Dan Nichols and Electrifying Music
Music is like that. Electrifying, exhilarating, intoxicating. Music can transport us to higher planes of existence. I notice it whenever we go to a concert. Or go dancing. When just sitting in the sanctuary listening to Cantor Cotler when he is in the groove. Connecting Teens Thru MusicIf you want your kids to connect Jewishly, …
Andrew’s Poem: What It Means to Be A Jew Today
Andrew’s Poem from Tracie Karasik on Vimeo.
Israeli Breakthroughs in 2011: Prepare to be Impressed!
Want to be impressed by the achievements of a little country in the Mideast? Check out this review, by the Near East Report, on Israeli Breakthroughs in 2011. Prepare to be impressed: — Israel remains the world’s top investor in R&D as a proportion of its GDP. And, based on its achievements in the fields of medicine, …
Breathing Through God
Did you know that when you breathe you are connecting to God? Or you could be if you were aware of what you were doing. Really. As part of our experimental Jewish Spiritual Journey Facebook Group, one participant asked me, “Does the word SHEMA have something to do with our breath?” I love the question. …
Simcha Wars: The Battle For Joy (Part 1)
[This article first appeared in Congregation Or Ami’s Divray Or Ami newsletter. It directs readers to this blog to discover the 7 Intentional Strategies to Infuse Simcha (Joy) in our Congregation.] Judaism, according to one accounting, has at least 15 different words to describe joy. From rina (meaning joyous song) to sasson (exaltation) to simcha …