The Holiness of Broken Tablets (Ki Tissa)
Holiness. We often think of holiness as the pinnacle of our achievements, such as when we are at our best, our most thoughtful, our most patient, our most spiritual.
Daniel's Bar Mitzvah Video: Too Much? Not Enough? (Shabbat Zachor)
Shabbat Shalom. Earlier this morning, I sent all you a link to a video on YouTube. As of this afternoon, over 243,000 people have watched an Atlanta kid rap about the Braves, keeping kosher, musing about the Torah and…
You Are Talented (T'rumah)
I have always loved talent shows. A few years ago in Omaha we decided to do a coffee-house talent show after a Havdalah service. I approached various congregants about participating. Often, someone would say, But rabbi,…
Which Hand Will You Pick? (Mishpatim)
All of us follow rules. One person speaks at a time. Raise your hand before you speak. Don’t hit other people. And, most of us, from time to time … don't follow rules. We speed – knowingly, see a police car, slow down,…
Take a Step Back: Moses, God and Tzimtzum (Yitro)
We have Shabbat for many reasons. From a legal, halachic perspective, we have Shabbat because it is commanded to us. Not only that, it's commanded to us in this very portion, as part of the ten commandments, the 4th…
Every Tradition Begins with a New Idea (Open House Shabbat)
A synagogue is going through a process of strategic planning, visioning for the future. The temple's leadership decides to talk to people about why they come to services.
Two Jews, Three Opinions … Why Do We Argue? (Vayishlach)
Jews often self effacingly quip about our penchant for arguing, for fighting. It's said like a badge of honor: Two Jews, three opinions.
Put Gratitude in That Attitude (Thanksgiving)
Baruch atah adonai, eloheinu melech haolam, shehechiyanu, vkiyimanu, vhigiyanu, lazman hazeh. Praised be You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us and permitted us to reach this…
Is It Two People or a Cup of Wine? The Answer Is Torah. (Toldot)
I love optical illusions. As a child, I would beg my parents to buy me the latest book filled with visible oddities and conundrums. This is one of my favorites: (show image) If looking at the black space, the form of the…
They're Just Words? (Matot)
The g'vurot is the second prayer of the Amidah. In it, we praise God's limitless power. The traditional prayer tells us that God is so powerful in fact, that God can M'chayeh Metim, resurrect the dead.