Posted by in Uncategorized I am proud to be a USC alum. Coming to USC from Memphis, Tennessee changed my life and brought me to Southern California. It was a great experience even as a transfer student 30 years ago. I didn’t know a soul when I got USC but I quickly made friends and learned to navigate the…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Parshat Vayikra Leviticus 1:1 – 5:26 This week we begin the book of Leviticus. The first parsha/portion bears the name of the entire book of Leviticus “Vayikra” – “And God called to Moses.” (Lev.1:1). This book calls us to come close to God through the sacrificial system. The word for sacrifice, korban is from the…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Today I am in Sedona, Arizona enjoying the serenity of this Red Rock town. Majestic mountains surround and the air is the cleanest I have breathed in. There is so much beautiful art as well as the art of nature. The words of the Psalmist come to mind “The earth is the Eternal’s and the…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Once again the Knesset of Israel is trying to mess with Israel’s Law of Return. The Law of Return ensures that every Jew has a right to emigrate to Israel. The right-wingers are trying to exert their religious power to further erode the Diaspora Jewish communities’ religious authority in the area of conversion. They are trying…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized The Central Conference of American Rabbis at its San Francisco Conference this past week reaffirmed its opposition to discrimination in the armed forces of the United States. It specifically reinforced its opposition to the heinous Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy aimed at ousting gay men and lesbians who are on active duty. Rabbis serve as…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Constance Leighann McMillen is one courageous high school senior. This young woman wanted to take her girlfriend to her prom. This is the night that caps a young person’s high school life. And in the south it is really seen as the pinnacle of high school. But the prom was cancelled because of the homophobia of the Itawamba High School Administration. The…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Parshat Vaykhel/Pekude Exodus 35:1 -40:38 We have made our way this week to the end of the book of Exodus. This double portion brings to a close the immediate part of the liberation story from Egypt to Sinai to Ten Commandments to building the Tabernacle. The portions include the building and making of all the…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Today I had a wonderful visit with Rabbi Uri Regev. Rabbi Regev is formerly the head of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, world-wide umbrella of Progressive congregations. Rabbi Regev was the founding director of the Reform movement’s Israel Religious Action Center in Jerusalem and is also an attorney. He lives in Jerusalem but is…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Last night at the annual convention of the Central Conference of American Rabbis we celebrated 20 years since the passage of a resolution allowing the ordination of openly gay and lesbian rabbis. In a beautiful evening service written and coördinated by Rabbi Yoel Kahn of Berkeley, CA, more than a dozen gay and lesbian and transgender colleagues led…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized The recent investigative reporting by the South Florida Gay News and blogger Wayne Besen of Truth Wins Out has uncovered the ex-gay movement’s latest scandal. See my previous blog Beware Con Man About – Beware about the founder of the Jewish ex-gay movement Arthur Abba Goldberg. Goldberg founded and runs, JONAH -Jews Offering New Alternatives to Homosexuality.…Read more »
Walking Humbly. Seeking Justice. Living with Hope. 