Blog Archives

Hearing the Unheard (P. Vayishlah)

11/30/2025

Sometimes received religious traditions fail to hear the voice of suffering. Even worse, received traditions can suppress the voice of suffering.

It happens because every religion, by definition, titrates high principle through inherently limited and flawed human capacity.

What is our duty in response?

Rabbi's Corner: December 2025 – A Year's Second Hanukkah

11/30/2025

Thanks to how this year's secular and Jewish calendars interact, the approaching Festival of Lights will be the second Hanukkah of 2025.

Hanukkah is one of Judaism's most popular celebrations. For centuries, our people voted with our candles and community gatherings, as will we several times during the weeks ahead.

In this month's Rabbi's Corner, R. David offers two ways that perhaps we can make this year's Hanukkah uniquely meaningful, rooted in the deep well from which Hanukkah springs.

Don't miss the light shining at Shir Ami!

What You Missed – Mid-Late November

11/30/2025

Shir Ami's three learning series include deep and profound sharing. Please consider joining us!

In Liturgy of the Prayerbook (Sundays 5:00pm), we delved into the Amidah for Shabbat evening (and Shabbat morning, for this year's b'not mitzvah). Next up, we'll learn Friday night liturgy: come learn what we do on Shabbat, and why.

In SoulSpa (Saturdays 10:00am), we explored the flow of spiritual life in legacy, belief, yearning and tears. Next is Torah's dreamy Joseph narrative.

In Illness & Healing (next session is December 9), we explored theologies of illness including a God who suffers with us, Shekhinah present at every sickbed, and how personal experience can soften us and help us shine in a sometimes dark world.

When the Turkeys Get Us Down (Thanksgiving)

11/23/2025

Jewish life and Thanksgiving both invite us to count our blessings with gratitude. Jewish life also is about being real, and sometimes the reality is that the turkeys get us down.

Here's some holiday food for thought about what to do if we, or someone we love, is struggling to find gratitude this Thanksgiving.

What You Missed – Week of November 9, 2025

11/16/2025

There's a lot going on at Shir Ami.

Because nobody can do it all, here's a new periodic feature to keep the Shir Ami community up to date on what's happening in our classes about Torah, liturgy and topics in Jewish spiritual life. Each one will offer links to course materials, and an open invitation to stop by any of our offerings.

Course materials and participation links are highlighted for each course.

Rational Spirituality Beyond Belief (P. Toledot)

11/16/2025

Believers might readily embrace the spiritual prospect of asking God a question and receiving a response (whether with a knowing or feeling beyond self, or an inner sense within).

But how about disbelievers? In a rational world of left-brain logic, can suffering and brokenness drive a rational response that is spiritual? Indeed they can, and the source is poignant.

The Pause That Refreshes (P. Hayyei Sarah)

11/9/2025

When we think of a "pause that refreshes," most modern Jews will think of Shabbat. For sure.

Turns out that a daily "pause that refreshes" is good for the soul, and for work efficiency, and physical health. And it's very Jewish.

Read on, with a bonus spotlight on R. David's learning at the Institute for Jewish Spirituality.

Rabbi's Corner: November 2025 – Making a 'Yesvember' Community

11/2/2025

After months of Jewish intensity, November plateaus in a month without Jewish holidays.

In this month's Rabbi's Corner column, Rabbi David reflects on what this seasonal shift can make possible for Shir Ami, and all Jewish communities.

The choices we make now about "doing Jewish" – not just "being Jewish" – will tell us much about what we value, and who we are.

Sick Visits (P. Vayera)

11/2/2025

When the going gets tough, some of us have an instinct to pull in – to self-isolate, even conceal our tough times.

Maybe we resist drawing attention to ourselves or our difficulties. Maybe we feel that stoicism and privacy are the best parts of valor. We cleave to normalcy like it's nobody's business.

For deep reasons, Jewish spiritual life calls us against these instincts. We have duty to visit and help, and we have a duty to allow it. Here's why.

Hearing the Unheard (P. Vayishlah)

Rabbi's Corner: December 2025 – A Year's Second Hanukkah

What You Missed – Mid-Late November

When the Turkeys Get Us Down (Thanksgiving)

What You Missed – Week of November 9, 2025

Rational Spirituality Beyond Belief (P. Toledot)

The Pause That Refreshes (P. Hayyei Sarah)

Rabbi's Corner: November 2025 – Making a 'Yesvember' Community

Sick Visits (P. Vayera)

Categories

Archives

Mailing Address

Worship

Contact Us