Category: Uncategorized
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A Prayer for Healing after a Hate Crime
After the hate crime attack against my synagogue last week, we not only need to repair the damage and address security measures, but we need to heal spiritually as well. I penned this prayer that I shared last Shabbat and at our community meeting the following week: Eloheinu v’elohei avoteinu v’eemoteinu Our God and God…
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Fear. Anger. Hate. Suffering.
To be honest, I was going to take a break this week. I wasn’t going to send out a weekly message this week—it is winter break from school, and with the kids home I need to alter my schedule. Plus it was Erez’s birthday yesterday, so I took time off so we can have a…
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A Swastika at TBH
This morning I discovered a swastika painted on a statue outside the Temple Beth Hatfiloh building. This is the letter I sent out to my congregation community. Friends, This morning I arrived at TBH to find a swastika painted on the statue that graces the entrance to our offices. Earlier this morning I read an…
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Joseph, the Brother Sold Into Slavery, is…[SPOILER ALERT]
Here I am, reflecting on Torah, Star Wars and spoilers on the Rabbis Without Borders blog… Joseph, the Brother Sold into Slavery, is…[SPOILER ALERT]
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A Very Pagan Hanukkah
Today is the fifth day of Hanukkah if you are reading this after sunset (which you probably are, since I didn’t post it until after sunset.) This is a special day of this eight day holiday because it is the first day in which we have more light than darkness. When we light the…
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The One Biblical Verse We Need to Remember When We Discuss Guns
The New York Times did something extraordinary this Saturday—it ran an editorial on the front page. This was extraordinary in both senses of the word. On the one hand it was unusual in that this is the first time since 1920 that the Times ran an editorial on the front page. And on the other…
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Pray, But Light the Candles Too
With Hanukkah beginning this Sunday night, it is time to retell the traditional story of Hanukkah, how a small band of Jewish rebels rose up against the oppressive regime of King Antiochus, the Greek ruler who imposed severe restrictions on the Jewish community and Jewish practice, even desecrating the holy Temple in Jerusalem. Once the…
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Reunions
This is the week of reunions. For many, the holiday of Thanksgiving means a reunion of sorts, a coming together with family and friends who we may only see this one time a year. This is one of the special aspects of holiday time, we not only connect with the spirit of the season, and…
Rabbi 360 