Blog Archives

Rabbi's Corner – December 2023, Darkness and Light

11/26/2023

Most every spiritual system has a festival time of year dedicated to shining light in the darkness. As the Northern day reaches its lowest ebb, Jews around the world prepare to celebrate Hanukkah – the Festival of Lights. Hanukkah's nightly ritual of kindling candles has become one of Judaism's most cherished rituals.

Especially this year, it's about much more than candles.

Becoming "Israel," Again and Again (P. Vayishlah)

11/26/2023

Every so often, we do well to return to our first principles of who we are – both individually and as a people.

We do well to revisit our core origin story – the story we tell ourselves about who we are called to be.

Whether amidst challenge or triumph, we do well to see with clear eyes how well we fulfill that call.

Now is one of those times.

Thanksgiving and the First Stone of Blessing (P. Vayeitzei)

11/20/2023

The fortuity that Thanksgiving often aligns with the Torah dream story of Jacob's Ladder isn't just a calendrical quirk. The Pilgrims of America's colonial experience understood themselves to be following, quite literally, in Jacob's footsteps as travelers on a God-blessed journey toward new spirituality and new opportunity in a new world.

From their common narrative, there's much we moderns can learn about what Thanksgiving truly aspires to be – and how we are called to be and become in our own secular and spiritual lives.

When "Because" Doesn't Answer "Why" (P. Toledot)

11/13/2023

If you or someone you love ever suffered, you probably asked why. “Why?” and particularly "why me?" echo in history and the psyche, whether spoken aloud or asked silently within. The human heart wants to know why, even when the mind knows that there’s no knowing why.

These deeply human questions reveal much about us, and gift us a springboard for meaning and resilience – if we pay close attention.

Are You Talking to Me? (P. Hayyei Sarah)

11/5/2023

Spiritual life means different things to different people. From Torah's early chapters forward, the core of Jewish spirituality has centrally featured personal engagement with the One we call God. Long before fixed liturgies and other books, there was individual dialogue spoken from the heart.

This week's Torah portion harkens back to those ancient times when one-on-One engagement was monotheism's truest spiritual path. In truth, perhaps that's so even now.

Rabbi's Corner – December 2023, Darkness and Light

Becoming "Israel," Again and Again (P. Vayishlah)

Thanksgiving and the First Stone of Blessing (P. Vayeitzei)

When "Because" Doesn't Answer "Why" (P. Toledot)

Are You Talking to Me? (P. Hayyei Sarah)

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