Rosh Hashanah Wishes
Dear… Everyone, Rosh Hashanah is approaching, and I’ve been struggling with what to say. It’s a time of introspection, a time for looking back at all of the things in the past year, reevaluating, reassessing, and moving forward. We will feed each other apples and honey for a sweet and bount

posted 7:13:54pm Sep. 16, 2012 | read full post »

Kaddish
Yitgadal v’yitkadash sh’mei raba. Exalted and hallowed be God’s great name.   This is the beginning of the Mourner’s Kaddish, one of the most beautiful and moving prayers I have ever found. It is a prayer said in memory of those we have lost. It is a prayer more of of Americ

posted 12:53:40pm Sep. 11, 2012 | read full post »

There's a reason it's called spiritual practice
I know I'm supposed to say the Mod(e)(a)h Ani first thing in the morning. Before I get out of bed. Before I say hello to my dogs. Before I have a first cup of coffee. After all, what greater gift is there than the return of one's soul to one's body. It should be the first thing you think of. The pro

posted 11:53:00am Sep. 09, 2012 | read full post »

Political markings and Spiritual Solidarity (on the wearing of a kippah)
Last week, Rabbi Daniel Alter of Berlin was on his way home from picking up his daughter. He was approached, asked if he was Jewish, and then attacked when he responded yes. Among the many responses to this attack was one from Gideon Joffe, who heads the Jewish community in Berlin, who stated that h

posted 2:37:58pm Sep. 04, 2012 | read full post »

On truth, mourning, and moving on...
I read today that Egypt has closed the last remaining working synagogue in the country -- Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue in Alexandria (you can check out the article for yourself here). I can’t find anything about it on the major news sources (NY Times, Huffington Post, etc.) so I’m holding out judgme

posted 11:09:42pm Sep. 02, 2012 | read full post »