Category: religion
-
Has the day come?
For the second time in about a week, I’m sharing something written by my friend and teacher, Rabbi Daniel Gordis, which pretty perfectly encapsulates and captures my feelings and reaction to the current political and social climate in the United States and beyond. It bears mentioning that I have had no illusions about our situation…
-
Looking forward, looking back
I delivered the d’var Torah this past Shabbat at Ohr Shalom. I had volunteered to do this months ago, but had completely forgotten about it, so when the rabbi emailed me on Thursday night to remind me, I emailed back with a “no problem” message that, thanks to the emotionless nature of the medium, completely…
-
Pre-school profundity
I had a profound, important conversation with my three-and-a-half-year-old daughter Sunday evening. We were visiting the home of a congregant from our synagogue for shiva minyan, the service held in a house of mourning. The friend (T), himself well past middle age, had just lost his mother (she was in her 90s). Since we had…
-
Shabbat shalom x2
Starting off the weekend right with a couple of outstanding drashot from two of my favorite rabbis: First, again, is Rabbi David Wolpe from Sinai Temple in LA, whose weekly Off The Pulpit I’ve mentioned before – it’s consistently inspirational and thought-provoking (I’m including the sign-up information at he bottom so you can subscribe too):…
-
Holiday Greeting
I was inspired to post this to Facebook earlier tonight, and I think Wil Wheaton had something to do with it: Merry Christmas to all*, and to all a good night! (*Some restrictions apply, see your spiritual advisor for details. If visions of sugar plums persist for more than four hours, seek help immediately. Not…
-
Something…something…COMPLETE!
I’ve been wearing a kippah full time now for three years, I think (somebody can check me on this; I’m pretty sure I have previously blogged about this), and that one little mitzvah definitely has me thinking more consciously about all the other mitzvot I observe and those I don’t. There are some mitzvot that…
-
D’var Torah: B’Chukotay
Yeah, I know I’m posting it a week late, but I delivered it on time (Shabbat, 24 May 2008, 19 Iyar 5768) at Tifereth Israel. Among other things, B’Chukotay is notable for the inclusion of the tochecha, the section of punishments I refer to below, which, according to tradition, is to be read quickly and…
-
Brain dump, Tuesday night
I have to blog a thousand things, but I’ll just keep this to the top that I’m able to think of, in no particular order, before my fingers get tired: The evil bastards who control the food packaging disaster that is hot dogs and buns are even more devious than I previously suspected: We recently…
-
No words
-
Blasphemy has never been so funny.
The thing about Israelis is, they we are equal opportunity offenders. Christians? No problem: If Mary had been a modern Israeli woman (5 MB WMV download) Chasidic and other ultra-orthodox Jews? We got you covered: I’m sure there’s plenty of stuff out there to cover Muslims and others, too, but I’ll leave it to others…