Rabbi 360

The past two weeks we have been reading in the Torah about the building of the mishkan (Tabernacle)—the portable structure that is to accompany the Israelites in their journey—as well as the furnishings and tools that were used for all of the various functions and sacrifices. We also read of the priests, their initiation, and…

Below are two recent pieces I have shared, both reacting to various dimensions of these times. The first is a reflection on joy and sorrow that I shared on social media (I share it here too since I know not everyone does social media.) For the better part of two years now, I have shared…

I find some of the most heartfelt, searing, and enduring words in the Torah to be found in this past week’s parasha: “Will you sweep away the innocent along with the guilty?” These words are found in the story of the impending destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 18. God has decided that the…

There is a story in the Talmud (Kiddushin 39b) that has occupied a lot of my spiritual mindspace as of late, wanted to share it with you. The story is about a bunch of rabbis—the Talmud, so that we can orient ourselves, is a text developed after the Bible, after the destruction of the ancient…

You can watch me deliver this sermon here. We gather once again at this time, and once again, we have an opportunity to look back and reflect on what lessons the past year has brought to inform our lives moving forward. And as you know, I do not just advocate for this work as a…

This week we read parashat Shoftim in the Torah, in which we are reminded of the importance of tzedek, or justice. And this week we usher in the new month of Elul, in which we are reminded of the importance of teshuvah, or repentance. The two concepts are interconnected, for one of the ways that…

Today we mark Tisha B’Av (“the 9th of [the month of] Av”), which marks the historic destruction of the ancient Temples in Jerusalem, as well as other calamities that were visited upon the Jewish people throughout history. As a day of mourning, it is traditionally observed in a similar manner to Yom Kippur with a…

There has been a lot of discussion recently at how social media is having a negative impact on the mental health of youth. Most recently the U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued an Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health warning about the dangers: “Children are exposed to harmful content on social media, ranging…

I know its a little late for Shavuot, but I wanted to share this reflection I wrote for the newsletter of the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW on the themes of Shavuot and immigration. It was published in their May 19, 2023 newsletter. Shavuot, which we observe this month, is the festival of Torah,…