An Atheist’s Continued Shabbat Traditions
Someone new recently joined my weekly atheist meet-up group, so the subject came up again: What was your former religion? When and why did you stop believing?
Saying “Yes” to a Different Kind of Shabbat
It’s Shabbat morning. The air is clear and cold, but the sun is shining, without a cloud in the sky. I’m standing on a hill, looking down at a farm; a few hawks circle overhead.
Trapped by Tradition: A Review of Award-Winning Israeli Film "Gett"
In the riveting courtroom drama Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem, the titular character is not the only one on trial.
Gender Expression isn’t a Purim Costume
On Purim, many people will cross-dress and dress up as someone of a different gender. This year, rethink it.
The Adult Issues - and Lessons - of Purim
During the 40 years that I served as a congregational rabbi, Purim evolved from a pleasant celebration into what has become, in my view, almost a third High Holiday.
Black and Jewish: Balancing Minority Identities
"So, you’re Jewish? Like, full-on Jewish? Like, Drake-Jewish? Funny, you don’t look Jewish.”
Yehuda: A Poem
"That land there", he points,
"That was Jesse's."
We look and I consider
the bramble imprisoned by razor wire
and the story:
a day of hard words over cotton prices
followed by a night
filled with the sound of slaughtered pigs
and my great grandfather
Remembering Leonard Nimoy: A Rabbi's Eulogy
[Author's note: What follows is a portion of my eulogy at Leonard’s funeral on Sunday morning, March 1. He was married to my dear first cousin, Susan.]
New PBS Documentary Explores the Jewish Immigrant Experience in America
The Jewish Journey: America, a one-hour documentary by Grammy award-winning director Andrew Goldberg premieres on PBS March 3, 2015 (check local listings).
Ah, Democracy!
[In the dispute over the impurity of Achnai's oven, Rabbi Eliezer ruled that the oven was pure; all the other rabbis ruled the opposite.] Rabbi Eliezer said: "If the law is according to my view, let it be proven from heaven!" And a heavenly voice called out, "What is your quarrel wit