In this week’s Torah portion, T'rumah, the Israelites start building the Tabernacle, using the gifts that are brought by all whose hearts so move them. Together, they build a sanctuary so that God can dwell among them. They invite the presence of God into their midst through their generosity
We are finally bringing in the light! We’re on the other side of the winter solstice. The daylight will slowly get longer, but in the meantime, we’re lighting the Chanukah candles and filling our homes with light and warmth. Looking out the window to see a dusting of snow
Prayer is one of the most personal and profound ways that people connect with the Divine, themselves, and the world around them. It's an expression of faith, a moment of reflection, or a way to seek guidance and comfort. But what’s so beautiful about prayer is that there’s no
At the very end of Yom Kippur, as the gates began to close and the sun set, we read together, “Our sages teach: As soon as the fast of Yom Kippur concludes, pound the first nail into the sukkah! To everything there is a season - a time for
How might we use this year’s High Holy Day theme “All of my soul/breath will praise God” in the way we talk and connect with each other? On my bulletin board at Temple Jeremiah was a modern translation of Nishmat Kol Chai, a benediction that I would read as
On Sunday afternoons, I help direct Selah - a choir of Jewish adults with special needs. Some choir members are in wheelchairs, some non-verbal, some have down syndrome - but all share a love of music and singing. Selah rehearsals are filled with joy, spirit, laughter, hand clapping, toe-tapping,
The Importance of Breathing Bruce Zimmerman “Let all of my breath/soul praise God.” (Psalm 150) The mindfulness of breathing. “The boys made it to the summit,” our head guide informed me. I was at 18,500 feet hoping to conquer Mt. Kilimanjaro as well. However, I knew that in order
Kanye, Kyrie, & Kash. Sounds like partners in a law firm. Often, a good partner spurs the other to action, and in this case, Kanye’s and Kyrie’s antisemitic comments were the catalyst that lit the fire for this “partner” to “use all of my soul, all of my breath,
This week’s Torah portion, Va-et'chanan, contains what is likely the single most frequently read verse of Torah – Deuteronomy 6:4, which is better known as the Shema. The six words of this verse are often referred to as the watchwords of our faith, the closest thing we have in
I have been on a journey for the last few months. I started packing to leave my home of the last three years in Santa Fe around Passover, and then spent some time staying with a friend. On my last day in Santa Fe, I went to the hot
