It Shouldn’t Take a Pandemic to Return Us to Ourselves
As 5781 begins, I find that the less I do, the better I feel. The more I am myself. The more at-home I am within my own body, my own mind. There is no glory in constant exhaustion and fatigue.
Related Blog Posts on Jewish Values, Lifecycle Rituals, and Spirituality
Yachol Nuchal, Surely We Can Overcome
Do we see ourselves and this moment as grasshoppers, or do we jump on top of our chairs and say “Yachol nuchal, surely we can overcome this”?
An Open Letter to Those Who are Struggling with an Eating Disorder on Yom Kippur
At Yom Kippur, we wish one another "a safe and easy fast," but for those of us with eating disorders, it will be neither safe nor easy. It will be dangerous, but more so detrimental.
On Running Away, Returning, and Teaching the Story of Jonah
We hear the story of Jonah on Yom Kippur, as an example of the power of repentance and redemption. But my favorite thing about this story is how perfectly messy it is to heed God's call.
Act Now: 3 Vital Ways You Can Help Protect Our Democracy
Deuteronomy 16:20 directs us: “Tzedek tzedek tirdof” – Justice, justice shall you pursue. The words remind us of the importance of ensuring justice itself is achieved through just means.
With Wounds Still Open, We Ask: Where is God?
I do not believe that God sent us COVID-19, and I do not believe God will cure it. That is for humans to do, using our God-given intellect and ambition to develop the vaccines and treatments that will help stop the spread of this natural virus.
3 Previously Frowned-Upon Behaviors to Embrace During the High Holidays at Home
The new normal of distanced coronavirus kehilla t'filah (communal prayer) offers new ways to enhance your Home High Holidays. Consider these three previously banned behaviors to warm up your worship.
Finding Healing, Finding Hope: The Powers of Poetry
In a time as devastating as the COVID-19 pandemic, people heal in many different ways. For Cantor/Rabbinic Pastor Lisa Levine, healing comes in the form of music and poetry.
When It Comes to Supporting Israel, We Can't Compromise Our Values
As a young Reform Jewish leader, I have sought to foster critical discussions about individuals’ relationships with the Jewish state. But Israel’s detractors make no distinction between progressive and reactionary Zionism.
This Yom Kippur, Let Your Emotions Serve as "Radical Blessings"
As we no longer serve God through temple sacrifices, many Jews have come to understand the entire world, in essence, to be God’s temple. This year, I believe we have vandalized God’s temple with the blood of the innocent.
