Posted by in Uncategorized Ki Tavo Deuteronomy 26:1- 29:8 One of the most powerful ideas that Judaism gave the world is that God could not be contained in an image. In fact, we can’t even pronounce the Holy Divine four letter name of God, יהוהas each is a vowel! The secret of pronunciation was once known by the High…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Why is it that when you are under the most pressure at work with deadlines, projects and important tasks that the computer ghouls come out? They pick the exact time–crunch time to crash your workstation, lose valuable information or documents, or access to the internet. Last night that happened to me. Even though I screamed…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized I think the most exasperating job is that of parent. When they are little it takes one kind of energy. When they are teens it is a completely different kind of energy. And savvy. Those teens can be tricky as they push the boundaries. That is what makes high school such crazy years. Didn’t…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Without fanfare or Mission Accomplished signs, the Iraq War ended last week. American combat troops left last Wednesday. They withdrew to Kuwait. A war that has been raging since 2003 in the aftermath of 9/11 has claimed countless lives of both Iraqis and American troops and coalition partners. At times a veritable bloodbath. Officially more than…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized A few more words on the Mosque and Cordoba Initiative community center controversy. One of the major issues for Islam is that there has never been any great Reformation. Christianity went through it with Martin Luther. Judaism has had several reformations. Further American Islam must send it young leaders outside the U.S. for religious training.…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized This is my Friday night Sermon on the Mosque at Ground Zero controversy. Shabbat Shalom Perhaps the greatest principle in the Torah: Is Love your neighbor as yourself. ואהבת לרעך כמוך Vahavata L’reyacha Kamocha. It is so important that we read this passage on Yom Kippur. It reminds us of our duties to our fellow…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized The Rev. Cannon Susan Russell of All Saints in Pasadena is my heroine. She knows how to speak and preach and teach and is one amazing advocate of GLBT equality. She tells it like it is. She isn’t afraid to name the truth and to call out to those who twist it for their own…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Parshat Ki Tetzeh Deuteronomy 21:10 – 25:19 Our weekly Torah portion Ki Tetzeh reminds us of our obligations to 3 groups of people; the stranger, the orphan and the widow. These three classifications represent those without power and access in ancient society. The stranger was one who lived among the Israelites but wasn’t an Israelite…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized There is more on clergy burnout and clergy well-being written about. Here is yet another article from Huffington Post. This one highlights a clergy health study. It is a meaningful yet stressful profession that is going through complete transformation. The rabbinate I trained for at Hebrew Union College is vastly different from my day-to-day reality…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized So the Court ruled–The ninth Circuit court continued the stay on marriage. And so we wait. The court asked the filers why the Yes on Prop 8 people have any standing at all to appeal. This is a good thing. They do not represent the State of California. So they must justify taking this case…Read more »
Walking Humbly. Seeking Justice. Living with Hope. 