Finding Comfort in a Caring Community
During the Yamim Noraim, the Days of Awe, it is customary to go to the cemetery to pay respects, or as I say, 'visit' those you love. This year, during this time, I was fortunate to be in the same city where my dad is buried.
Galilee Diary: Bat Mitzvah
No thunder sounded. No lightening struck.
-Judith Kaplan Eisenstein, recalling her bat mitzvah, March 18, 1922 - the first bat mitzvah in North America at which a girl read from the Torah. She was the daughter of Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan, founder of Reconstructionism.
Galilee Diary: Solidarity
Redemption of captives comes before other forms of tzedakah… and one who ignores the plight of the captive violates the commandment, "Do not stand idly by the blood of your fellow." [Leviticus 19:16].
Galilee Diary: Public Education
...If a teacher comes and opens a school near an existing school, in order to attract other students - or even students from the existing school - the teacher of the existing school is not entitled to protest, as it is written: "It pleased the Lord for the sake of His righteousnes
Simchat Torah - To Strengthen and To Become Stronger
By P.J. Schwartz
Galilee Diary: Tunnel vision
The arid desert shall be glad, the wilderness shall rejoice and shall blossom like a rose. It shall blossom abundantly; it shall also exult and shout. It shall receive the glory of Lebanon, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon...
Galilee Diary: Coming of Age
How can a young man keep his way pure? By holding to Your word. I have turned to You with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commandments.
-Psalm 119:9-10
Galilee Diary: The sound of silence
...There was a great and mighty wind, splitting mountains and shattering rocks by the power of the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind - an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake - fire; but the Lord was not in the fire.
Galilee Diary: Seasons greetings
You shall make no covenant with them and their gods. They shall not remain in your land, lest they cause you to sin against Me; for you will serve their gods - and it will prove a snare to you.
-Exodus 23:32-33