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Joy, Grief, and the Road Ahead
With the news of the impending ceasefire and hostage deal announced Wednesday, the tragedy that has befallen Israel and Palestine since October 7, 2023 has hopefully come to an end. As the Israeli cabinet has most recently approved the deal, many have confidence that we are on the path to ending this war. I know…
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Prayers for Los Angeles
I know many of us are reeling from the footage out of Los Angeles, as wildfires continue to spread, claiming lives, destroying property, and altering communities. It is heart-wrenching to see the pictures and hear the stories on the news and social media. When I spend time in nature, I am generally struck by two…
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Joseph Ate Alone
In the climatic moment of the Joseph story that we read this week in our Torah reading, Joseph reveals himself to his brothers. The man the brothers thought was the vizier of Egypt—the government official who was in charge of food distribution during a great famine—turned out to be the brother they had sold into…
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“May We Create a Nation”: A Jewish Prayer for Our Country
Ribono shel olam, Sovereign of all Space and Time, You have formed us to be Your partner in Creation. You have commanded us to Pursue justice Love our neighbor Welcome the stranger Tend the earth Make peace Repair the world. And to do so, you have taught us To create covenants and communities And appoint…
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Make Your World Small
This past week I have been treating as a bit of shiva—the seven day period in Jewish observance following a loss. The results of the election have for me brought feelings of sadness, anger, denial—all the various components of mourning a loss. Like during shiva when we step back from our lives, I have avoided…
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Blessing the Ballots
A prayer for voting: Ribono shel olam, Sovereign of all Space and Time, you have formed us to be Your partner in Creation. You have commanded us to pursue justice, love our neighbor, welcome the stranger, tend the earth, make peace and repair the world. To do so, you have taught us to form community,…
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From Loneliness to Belonging (Erev Yom Kippur 5785)
The story of Noah is one of those stories that as kids is really fun and exciting, and then when you read it as an adult, it sits much more heavily on the heart. Noah is a great story, the stuff of legend. God decides to destroy the world after witnessing humanity engaging in evil…
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7 Thoughts Since October 7 (Erev Rosh Hashanah 5785)
This was a hard sermon to give, primarily because of all anger and pain and fear wrapped up with what is happening in Israel and Gaza and the region. This is less a coherent and comprehensive statement than a collection of thoughts, a cumulation of things I have been reflecting on in the past year.…
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Eleh Ezkerah: These I Will Remember
This is my interpretation of the traditional Yom Kippur martyrology. Moving away from specific individuals and the idea of martyrdom, this liturgy brings to mind all those who have died under unjust circumstances. אֵלֶּה אֶזְכְּרָה וְנַפְשִׁי עָלַי אֶשְׁפְּכָהEleh ezkerah venafshi alay eshpechah. These I will remember and pour out my soul. I will remember all…
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Rabbi 360 