Posted by in judaism Chanukah is anything but a child’s holiday. Oh we have made it into a time for children with presents, and dreidles and silly Chanukah songs. But this is a holiday that commemorates the conclusion of a brutal war. The Syrian-Greek army against the priestly family and descendants of Mattethias who defended the rights of the…Read more »
Posted by in judaism For the second night of Chanukah we should think about the idea of “pirsum et haMitzvah” The commandment to publicize or promote the the lighting of the chanukiah. Our rabbinic ancestors thought we should place our chanukiah in the window to show and share the light of Chanukah! Of course there were times in our…Read more »
Posted by in judaism Tonight is the first night of Chanukah. I wish each of you a light filled week of miracles. My teacher Rabbi David Hartman z’l taught that the miracle of Chanukah was not the little jar of oil that lasted for eight nights. And it wasn’t the defeat of Syrian-Greek army by the Maccabees. It…Read more »
Mazal Tov to a true Jewish Hero! Rabbi David Saperstein has become the first non-Christian to be an ambassador for Religious Freedom! Read more by clicking the link below! David Saperstein Wins Confirmation to Religious Freedom Post by 61-35 Senate Vote.
Posted by in glbt, judaism, tikkun olam, Torah Commentary Here is my interview in the Advocate. Although they got some facts wrong. My Ordination year is wrong—it is HUC-JIR 1988. I came out publicly in 1988 What Does Judaism Say About LGBT People? | Advocate.com.
Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance. Nov. 20. For the last 18 years this day has been dedicated to the memory of all those transgender men and women who have been murdered because they were hated. Many transgender people have experienced violence and hatred directly. Many are victims of society’s misunderstanding of their lives.…Read more »
Posted by in judaism A busy little ant traveled days and distances in search of treasures that might benefit all in the colony. One day while out foraging the ant found a big piece of straw and thought it could come in handy. Though the ant struggled under the size and weight of the load on its back it…Read more »
Posted by in judaism, tikkun olam Shana Tovah Wow! Wasn’t this something. Thank you Cantor and Jeremy and the Kol Ami New Year’s Band for such an uplifting beginning to our Rosh Hashanah 5775! We all need awakening for the New Year. Tonight we can say goodbye to the tzoris of last year. For the last few months I just…Read more »
Posted by in glbt, judaism, tikkun olam, Torah Commentary This is an important Review of the New book The Sacred Encounter: Jewish Perspectives on Sexuality. It is edited by Rabbi Dr. Lisa Grushcow of Montreal, Canada. It is published by the CCAR Press . I have two chapters in this collection one on Taharat HaMishpacha-family purity and another on the history of LGBT inclusion within…Read more »
The news seems grim. With deep sadness another journalist is murdered by ISIS. This time we mourn Steven Satloff who was beheaded in a horrific video like his fellow prisoner and journalist James Foley. Steven Satloff grew up in Miami, Florida at Temple Beth Am. He was a Reform Jew. He went to Jewish Day…Read more »
Walking Humbly. Seeking Justice. Living with Hope. 