Clik here to view.
What if God is Praying for You?
The Old City of Jerusalem “Just call me on my cell. My house can be difficult to find.” I hobbled through the alleyways of the thick, cobbled ancient stone in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City in...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Waiting for God
We have entered the Hebrew month of Elul. This is the last Hebrew month before Rosh Hashanah, the New Year. Traditionally, it is a time when we begin to reflect on the year that has passed, the work we...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Igniting the Spark of Love
During the Hebrew month of Elul, leading up to Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, a number of bloggers are contributing to #BlogElul – a communal online project initiated by fellow ‘Rabbi Without...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Are We Living Up To Thanksgiving’s Potential?
So what did you really look forward to last week—Thanksgiving or Black Friday? Gorging on turkey surrounded by all those relatives, or the chance to grab a 50 inch plasma TV for $500 at some big box...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Rabbi, How do we respond to this tragedy?
First we cry, then we act. The murders that occurred on Friday at the Sandy Hook Elementary School are beyond my comprehension. How could something like this happen? As a parent of a seven year old, I...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Find room for God? Or finding God in the room?
On Christmas morning, I’m reviewing the news online and I catch the Huffington Post’s summary of the Pope’s Christmas Eve Mass message. In it, he bemoans the lack of space in our fast-paced lives for...
View ArticleClik here to view.
“It Was Meant To Be,” and Other Theologically Complex Statements
I recently returned from an amazing trip to Senegal. I was there to visit my step-daughter who is serving in the Peace Corps. It was incredible to get a taste of her experience living in a village in...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Taking The Plunge
It was January 2007, almost exactly six years ago. I was sitting in my office, reviewing a dense corporate document retention proposal, when I realized it was time for a career change. I had questioned...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Is “Gimme” the most important prayer?
A few days ago, I stumbled across a terrific quote, which I eventually tracked down to a New York Times article in which Rabbi Marc Gellman asserts, “‘I’m saying that techniques can make a difference,’...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Mysticism: the Experiential path to finding God
I’ve just started teaching a new course at my congregation on Jewish mysticism. There are many ways to engage with this sizable topic: we could focus on the intellectual history of mysticism from...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Should Women Thank God For Not Making Them Men?
A recent brouhaha has emerged in the Jewish blogosphere over Rabbi Ari Hart’s recent post, “Should I Thank God For Not Making Me A Woman?” Rabbi Hart references one of a series of morning prayers,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Rescuing Grace
I was speaking with a friend who was trying mightily to do the right thing in a tough situation. She was visiting Senior Living apartments with her ailing mother who both did and didn’t want to move....
View ArticleClik here to view.
Who Is God? Seeking a Middle Ground
God is real. A great conversation starter, isn’t it? These days, in public debate, it seems to be a great conversation stopper. Perhaps you are now thinking, “Yes, there is a creator, lawgiver,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Where does God fit in?
We have to bring more Jews into Jewish Life. We have to keep the Jewish community strong. We have to strengthen Jewish identity. These statements are the mantras of the organized Jewish community. I...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Passion/Compassion of the Jews
Every year on the 9th of Av it’s the same arguments in my head. Should I fast or not? On the one hand, the Temple was destroyed, and more. On the other, the State of Israel is reborn, and we Jews live...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Researching God
Theist? Atheist? Agnostic? Don’t answer until you’ve done some rigorous research. That’s right, research: with a method, literature review, experimental design, data collection, analysis, conclusions,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Kingdom Without a King
First thing in the morning, I like to take a 3-block walk to the Grind Café and Gallery on Main Street at King Edward Avenue. Once I’m there, I like to sit near the window and watch Main Street before...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Shall We Pray? Spontaneously?
Occasionally, a book about Jewish prayer will tell you that Judaism discourages spontaneous prayer. That magic of Jewish prayer, the book will say, lies in mastering the discipline of repeating a fixed...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Have a Little Faith
A lot has been made of the new Pew Study on the Jewish population. I am enjoying reading the various blogs and articles about it. It seems every Jewish professional feels the need to weigh in, even...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A Whole Lot of Love
What if God took note of every mistake you made and considered it a glorious seed for a profoundly better future? God, it seems, is often counter-cultural. Whereas our society, often despite knowing...
View Article
