A CALL TO ACTION: Every four years, the World Zionist Congress (the representative body of diaspora Jewry for Israel) holds a parliamentary vote to determine its global representative voice. After this year’s successful vote, ARZA (the political voice of Reform, Progressive and Liberal Religious Zionists in the World Zionist Congress), won a plurality of votes casted....
So many changes So much stays the same Special prayers, tears hearing Kol Nidre Sow in tears, reap with. . .joy Alone, comfortable on the couch, barefoot More together than ever One people Sanctuary on the screen Sanctuary of my home Sanctuary in my soul Surrounded by magnificent music Enveloped...
Dear Friends, As we prepare to enter into our Yamim Nora’im, these Days of Awe, which asks us to both reflect and begin anew, I am especially delighted and grateful for the peace treaty signed yesterday by Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. The historic treaties will broadly normalize relations between two of Israel’s Arab neighbors, including the opening of embassies in each of the nations for the first...
An Elul Reflection on The Soul by Rabbi Nevarez In our tradition, the soul (nefesh in Hebrew) is the spark within that illumines each of us. In a way, it serves as our pilot light, our ignitor. It helps us bring our own light and compassion to the greater world....
Elul is the final month in our Jewish calendar – a month that connects the past with the coming year, a time when we reflect on where we stand and where we should be going. Traditionally a time of introspection, known in Hebrew as cheshbon hanefesh – literally “an accounting of the...
These past days have brought me back to a memory of those many moments gazing upon the inscription proudly displayed on the front façade of the Unites States Postal Service building in NYC – the words forever associated with the American postal worker: “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor...
By Rabbi Michael Berk Whether you’re religious or not, or even if you just think about God from time to time, it’s almost impossible to avoid the question: Is God behind this pandemic that’s causing so much suffering in our world? One thing is for sure: you cannot believe in...
Shabbat 77 By Rabbi Asher Lopatin In Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner’s “2000 Year Old Man” sketch, Brooks plays an ancient man who knows pretty much everything there is to know about the world, and is happy to answer questions. For instance, the two storied comedians discuss the origins of...
Today, it often feels as if civil discourse is in short supply, especially at a time when even mentioning certain issues can feel polarizing. In our communities (and specifically for us, our Jewish community), we find ourselves in the uncomfortable position of straddling divides. Yet, debate and civil discourse are central tenets of Jewish life and living; they are reminders of the importance...
BOTH SIDES NOW By Rabbi David Wolpe on July 10, 2020 This I believe: You can combat the anti-Zionist and anti-Semitic elements in Black Lives Matter and still fight side by side with the black community against racism. You can be a staunch Republican and still believe that most Democrats are neither...
