Category: Uncategorized
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The Jewish Value to Guide our Protest
There is a pretty clear reason from our tradition as to why we as Jews should be rising up and opposing much of what the Trump Administration is doing right now. And while there are a number of principles that can guide us at this moment–creating peace, pursuing justice, welcoming the stranger–the high value that…
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The Famous Torah Verse You are Remembering Wrong, and What It Can Teach Us For This Moment
The famous story of the Exodus is what we are reading in the Torah this week, as Moses confronts Pharaoh to demand the liberation of the Israelites. After having been called by God at the Burning Bush, Moses joins with his brother Aaron to demand the release of their people from slavery. Each time they…
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Venn Activism
Since the election two months ago, I’ve been thinking about how we need to show up and respond. There is a lot of work ahead of us to try to achieve the outcomes we want to see and oppose the outcomes we don’t want to see, in light of an administration that many of us…
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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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