If you were to try to define the word holy, without using Google or a dictionary, where would you start? Would you talk about a time in your life where you experienced holiness? Would you talk about God? Would you use high-level words like “sanctity” and “consecrated?” How would
While our tradition may be filled with wonderfully unanswerable questions, our Torah is filled with unasked questions. What happened before God began creating? Why did the citizens of Babel wish to reach heaven with their tower? What was Isaac thinking as his father bound him for sacrifice? What did
This week, we are reminded that external success and internal struggle can, and do, happen simultaneously and are at the core of who we are as Jews and as individuals. For some of us, this is nothing new – we experience professional and social successes (promotions, marriages, kids, etc.)
The story in midrash goes: As Jacob lay on his deathbed, God came to him and showed him a preview of his end. Knowing that his family worried over him, Jacob called them to his side to share with them his revelation. He said to them: “Please, my children,
The phrase “standing on the shoulders of giants” has a long religious history. First documented in the church (though likely much older than the church itself) as describing the foundation of scholarship each generation has, it depicts the individual as a “dwarf” – small and individually limited,
We all know how the Torah begins, right? “B’reishit bara Eloheim et ha-Shamayim v’et Ha-aretz.” Ok, you might know it better as “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Gen 1:1) It’s become a famous line. It is the source of thousands of years of inspiration and theology, as well as
I am a big fan of oxford commas. Really, I’m a fan of commas in general, but oxford commas are great. In case you’re not a punctuation-nerd like me: oxford commas are used when listing items, which is one reason they can also be called a serial comma. It
I write this Shabbat message to you from a place that I, and so many of our young congregants, have been waiting two years to visit – URJ camp OSRUI in Oconomowoc, WI. Many of you know that I am a lifelong camper, having grown up, been on staff, and
Dear Friends, This week, we are confronted with another difficult Torah portion. Chukat opens with laws regarding a ritual no longer performed, Miriam the Prophetess dies, Moses strikes the rock, the Israelites complain, Moses and Aaron are told that they will not enter the Promised Land, Aaron the Priest
This week we have yet another opportunity to start anew. We Jews know how important it is to set, evaluate, and reset our intentions- and so have created numerous opportunities to do so. We don’t need to wait for Rosh HaShanah to roll around, we only need to wait for
