Category: Uncategorized
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The Jewish Case for Daylight Saving Time
See my most recent blog post on the Rabbis Without Borders blog on My Jewish Learning: The Jewish Case for Daylight Saving Time
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Some Purim (Madlib) Torah, and a pie video
A highlight each year at our Temple Beth Hatfiloh Purim celebration is the Mad-lib sermon, a “d’var Torah” I share created with the help of those assembled. I learned of the idea from by friend Rabbi Moti Rieber, and it is a lot of fun. Here is this year’s product, and perhaps there is some…
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Purim’s Four Rules of Life
Purim begins tomorrow night, and his the holiday that celebrates the events of the biblical book of Esther. The Persian Jewish community lives under King Ahasuerus, and eventually comes under threat from the king’s adviser Haman who issues a decree to kill the Jews. Esther, who at this time has become the Queen, risks her…
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On the Backs of Those Who Most Need Our Help
I spent today at the Capitol with over 200 other members of faith communities from across the state to participate in Interfaith Advocacy Day, sponsored by the Faith Action Network. It was a day of learning, of inspiration and action. Connected to the work we did today is this piece I wrote for the Jewish…
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Philip Levine: An Appreciation
Those who attend the services I lead know I incorporate a lot of poetry into worship. On the High Holidays I punctuate each service with poems, and each Friday evening, between Kabbalat Shabbat and Ma’ariv, I read a poem–without commentary– as a kavannah (intention) for that Shabbat. The poem is drawn from the vast world…
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Taking Another Step to Reducing Gun Violence: My Testimony on HB 1857
Here is the scenario: you discover a loved one who has struggled with mental illness recently purchased a gun. What do you do to prevent him from harming himself or others? As of now in Washington, there is no measure that can be taken to legally remove the gun from that person. But a bill…
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The “Fake News” and the “News Fake”
I love the Daily Show. And hearing of Jon Stewart’s departure is sad, but we know it is not imminent, and he is going out on top. And while I don’t watch TV news that much, I respected and enjoyed Brian Williams, who is now on a six month suspension from NBC News. I had…
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Shabbat Morning Quarterback: My Take on the Seahawks Loss
“The thing you are doing is not good.” These are the words spoken by Jethro to his son-in-law Moses in this week’s Torah portion. The Israelites are settling into their new life since leaving Egypt and adjusting to being a newly freed community. Moses is adjudicating all of the disputes of the Israelites, who line…
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Against Wage Theft: My Testimony in front of the WA House Labor Committee
Through my political action, I have the occasion to testify in front of the Washington State legislature several times over the course of a legislative session. Rarely, though, do those opportunities come so close in time. Much of what appears to be on the legislative horizon this year is about economic justice–namely, how to not…
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