Howard Lev
How I Learned to Blow the Shofar
Recently, I dusted off my shofar and have been brushing up on my shofar-blowing skills to prepare for the upcoming High Holidays.
Taking a Closer Look at the Words That Move Me on Rosh HaShanah
As I practiced my Haftarah, the words flowed, but I didn't feel emotion, perhaps because I didn't fully understand the portion. So I took the time to try to understand the meaning of the words.
After This Sermon, I Refuse to Be Indifferent
At a recent Friday evening Shabbat service, my rabbi spoke to the congregation and, without singling me out, told me I was indifferent. I wasn’t angry at him for saying so – I was angry at myself because he was correct.
83 is the New 13: Why Have a Second Bar Mitzvah?
Inspired by Stan, our congregation's 83-year-old bar mitzvah boy, I’m thinking that I may not wait until I turn 83 to recreate some part of my entry into adulthood, according to Jewish tradition, on an upcoming Friday night.
Why is the Mi Shebeirach So Meaningful?
The Mi Shebeirach, a Jewish prayer for healing, has been set to music by several contemporary Jewish musicians, including the late Debbie Friedman. Her interpretation – just two short stanzas – is both poetic and powerful, asking God to help those in need of
