Category: Uncategorized
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“32, 180, 230, 3, 0, 2”: A D’var Torah from the TBH Annual Meeting
These are the opening words I shared at our Annual Congregational Meeting on Sunday, June 2, 1019: This week we begin a new book of the Torah in our reading cycle, the book of Numbers. In Hebrew, the name of the book is Bamidbar, and it describes where the Israelites are at the moment of…
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The Rabbi, The King, and Humility
For the past few years, my practice of counting the Omer has been connected to Tarot. The counting of the Omer is the biblical practice of counting each day between Passover and Shavuot, the festival of freedom and the festival of covenant. Originally an agricultural practice, the counting of the Omer links the themes of…
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Reproductive Choice is Religious Liberty
Judaism is pro-life: the notion of pikuach nefesh–of saving a life–is paramount, overriding other ritual obligations. For example, if you can’t fast on Yom Kippur for health reasons, then not only should you not fast, but it is a “sin” to fast. And because of this commitment to life, when it comes to the abortion…
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Torah tl;dr: “Acharei Mot”
Who is your guide? Listen to the latest episode of my podcast here: 60 SECONDS TO WISDOM. Short teachings on the weekly Torah portion. Suitable for all who seek.
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After Death
This week’s Torah portion is called Acharei Mot, which means “after death.” We took a break from the regular Torah reading cycle for the festival of Passover, and pick it up this week with these words which, in the text, refer to the death of the sons of Aaron, the High Priest. His two sons,…
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After the Crossing, The Road Ahead
With Passover coming to a close, the recounting of our journey from slavery to liberation is nearly complete. The 7th day of Passover is traditionally marked as the day of the crossing of the Sea of Reeds, the climactic act which sealed the freedom of the Israelites. The Torah reading that is associated with this…
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Torah tl;dr: “Metzora”
Think when, not if. Listen to the latest episode of my podcast here. 60 SECONDS TO WISDOM. Short teachings on the weekly Torah portion. Suitable for all who seek.
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Passover: Great or Not?
I know I am in the minority but I love a tongue sandwich. My go-to deli order is pastrami and tongue on rye, and sometimes, hold the pastrami. When I get looks from my family, I proudly declare that “it’s the food that tastes you back.” My love for tongue came up for me this…
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“In Every Generation:” Notes from the Border
Earlier this week, I stood outside Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center in El Paso, TX. Painted on the exterior wall was a quote from Franklin Delano Roosevelt from 1938: “Remember, remember always, that all of us, and you and I especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionists.” A powerful and meaningful quote to read, having…
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