 The rains came this weekend, washing clean the dust of the summer, the soot from the wildfires and any remaining fear of new fires being kindled. In Northern California, the rainy season starts almost like clockwork on or around Halloween.  I find that so amazing…almost miraculous. In the almost seven years I’ve lived […]
My Life Needs a Rainy Season to End the Drought Read More »
What do Black Monday, the current economic crisis, the Divine Name, giving, and receiving have in common? I found out today while reading and participating in a dialogue on a list serve to which I subscribe. It all began with a post by someone who shared information about a man in Jerusalem who five years
Yesterday I found myself saying to my daughter, “I have something to tell you, and you probably aren’t going to like what I have to say.” I proceeded to give her my analysis of a situation that I had witnessed, and then I offered her my sage wisdom. She listened. She cried. She agreed with
Sometimes the Best Wisdom Isn't Offered but Taken Read More »
Shabbat ends ends and the week begins. It seems like time starts again. We finish reading the Torah and we begin again with the first portion, the first words of Genesis: “In the beginning.” These thee words been translated many ways, but scholars seem to argue that the words tells us something about the creation not
In the Beginning There was Time Read More »
Here I am again with the sun going down on a Friday night and no challah (traditional egg bread) in the oven, no chicken or roast in the oven, not table set for dinner, not even candles prepared for Shabbat. The house is clean, thanks to Oliva, but no one will be home to enjoy
Doing Shabbos When You Can't Do Shabbos Read More »
Each year on Simchat Torah I am struck by the importance of remembering the importance of going back and revisiting our beginnings. More often than not we learn something new or remember something necessary to our present life.  On this holiday, which literally means “rejoicing in the Torah (or law),” we celebrate the completion
Begin Again and Again and Again… Read More »
Not everyone knows that Sukkot is known as the “Season of our Joy.” This year, given the unstable economic situation in the United States, as well as around the world, however, I think many people are experiencing it as the season of our fear. However, the fact that this Jewish holiday is characterized by joyous
Season of Our Fear Read More »
Tonight begins the festival of Sukkot. This year, I find myself thinking very different thoughts about his holiday. Normally, I am focused on shaking the lulav and holding the etrog while praying with my whole body in all directions with a pure soul, cleansed during the High Holy Days…well, that is still there for me this year.
Getting in the Flow on Sukkot Read More »
I sat in Yom Kippur services struggling with an issue I’ve grappled with for several years now. As I looked at the faces of two people, I found it impossible to forgive them. With the gates closing, I could not reconcile the idea of forgiveness with their ongoing actions. “Oh, God,” I prayed, “Forgive me,
When Forgiveness Seems Impossible Read More »
We are told that on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, “it is written” and on Yom Kippur, the Day of Repentance, “it is sealed.” What is “it”? Our fate for the next year. With Erev Yom Kippur, the beginning of this awe inspiring day, almost upon us, it is important to think about who
Who Shall Live and Who Shall Die? And Can We Avert the Decree? Read More »
Jews say the Shema and V’ahavta twice a day. The Shema, which actually includes theV’ahavta, represents the cornerstone of Jewish belief. In the Jewish renewal world, and elsewhere, I’ve seen an interest in providing new translations for this prayer. The Reform Movement recently published a new prayer book, which provides a very nice translation of the
Thoughts on the Shema and V’ahavta Read More »
I often receive emails from our local Chabad rabbi, Yochanan Friendman, who I like very much. He actually taught my son to lay tefillin, and inspired him to do so for a month – actually more – and bought him a beautiful tefillin bag for doing so. (I’ve done some editing for his father, Manis
Chabad and LOA: A Lesson in Consciousness for the New Year Read More »
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