Theology, Technology and a bit of Music
In 2012, Neil Gaiman gave the commencement address at the University of the Arts. Gaimon is a prolific author of fantasy books, including the well-known and critically acclaimed, Coraline, which was made into a…
A new Rabbi comes to the synagogue and leads Shabbat services for the first time. Everything is going well. But just before the Sh'ma, half of the congregation stands up while the other half remains seated.
Deuteronomy may be our most quotable book. Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof. - Justice, justice shall you pursue. Sh''ma Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad. - Hear Oh Israel, Adonai is our God, Adonai is one.
In a few weeks, Jews around the world will commemorate Tisha B'av. The name of this day is a specific date, the 9th of Av. On Tisha B'Av, the 9th of Av, the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed not once, but twice: first by…
In 2012, Oprah Winfrey asked Elie Wiesel to tell her what the world most needed to hear: If there is one person on the planet who still is suffering from loneliness or from pain or despair, and we don’t know about it or…
This past Sunday, 49 people were killed in the largest attack on United States soil since 9/11. These 49 people were killed at Pulse, a dance club in Orlando that was a communal hub for LGBTQ individuals.
Earlier this week, on Monday morning, fifty Jews became B'nei Mitzvah. As Natalie Ripps knows, any Bar or Bat Mitzvah is an extraordinary celebration of Jewish life, commitment and continuity. But this celebrationion was…
El na r'fa na lah. - Please God, heal her. In Numbers chapter 12, Miriam harshly criticizes her brother Moses for marrying a Kushite woman. Following that, she is quickly punished. As the Torah tells us, Miriam became…
(sing) I wanna sing sing sing I wanna shout shout shout I wanna sing I wanna shout, praise the lord! Praising the Lord, giving thanks to God, this is a paramount liturgical theme in our liturgy. We thank God for allowing…
Now that we are free, the real work begins. This Torah portion of P'kudei concludes the building of the Tabernacle. The Israelites left Egypt, and in the last several portions, we have watched as they have followed the…