Category: Uncategorized
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Bright Lights in Boston
Bright Lights in Boston We are all still struggling with the tragedy in Boston. I was talking with someone the other day who said, “We all know who did it.” “Who?” I asked. “The fundamentalists.” Yes, that’s right. It doesn’t matter which fundamentalists, but some type of fundamentalist did this…someone who believes that he or…
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Treasure Each Day
“Teach us to treasure each day, that we may open our hearts to Your wisdom.” This is a verse from Psalm 90, and this interpretive translation and the music which goes with it was composed by Rabbi Yitzkak Husbands-Hankin at Temple Beth Israel in Eugene, OR. I first heard it 17 years ago at the…
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From Death to Life
As we wrapped up the festival of Passover, our Christian brothers and sisters were reflecting on a story of resurrection. On the one hand, we can say that the theme of resurrection does not play a major role in Jewish theology. On the other hand, what is resurrection if not the renewal of life? With…
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Testimony on the Reproductive Parity Act
Yesterday I went to the Washington State Capitol for the third time this session to testify. This time it was in front of a Senate committee considering the Reproductive Parity Act, a groundbreaking piece of legislation that would require health plans to cover all aspects of maternal care, including voluntary termination of pregnancy. My testimony…
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Ready or Not, Here We Go
This time of year reminds me of one of the biggest arguments Yohanna and I have had as a couple, because it was about Passover. In 1996, we were spending our first Passover together. She had brought to my apartment a jar of pesto, and I resisted using it because it wasn’t labeled Kosher for…
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Testimony against Predatory Lending
On a beautiful day in Olympia, when the evidence of spring is all over the Capitol Campus, I had the opportunity to give testimony in front of the House Business and Financial Services Committee against predatory lending. Here is my testimony: Members of the committee, my name is Rabbi Seth Goldstein and I am here…
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Be the Egg
When we sit around the Seder table next week we will have the opportunity to retell the story of the Exodus-of our spiritual ancestors’ oppression of slavery in Egypt and the liberation brought by Moses, culminating in the passing through the Red Sea and the receiving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. But we are…
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Testimony in favor of excused absences for Jewish holidays
Today I testified in front of the WA Senate Commerce and Labor Committee in support of SB5173, a bill which would provide for excused absences at work or school for “days of faith or conscience”–i.e., in our case, Jewish holidays that conflict with work or school. I joined a panel with a representative of the…
Rabbi 360 