Cantor, Teacher, Writer
There's been so much in the news lately about white privilege. And one reason why this phenomenon is so insidious and damaging is that by definition, the majority of people who benefit from it are happily, blissfully unaware. Those who must suffer the consequences are vocal and persuasive in their arguments, but until the institutions ...
These are the Torah portions which try men's souls. Or women's. Or really anyone who attempts to find some kind of relevance in parsha after parsha, column after mind numbing column, of what can only be accurately be described as IKEA directions for some product called Tåbernacłe. You have to wonder--when the Israelites had finished ...
I think we have a silence problem. People seem to be afraid of total quiet. You notice it everywhere. You can't sit in a doctor's office without seeing and hearing the TV set mounted in the corner, tuned to some random daytime talk show. Of course no one is actually watching the TV; everyone is ...
Sure, the Bible is pretty classic. It always sits on the top of the world's bestselling titles. People quote from it all the time. Some people have actually read it cover to cover. Is it wrong to say that I think the Bible is in desperate need of a reboot? They've pretty much taken those ...
One of my favorite things about going for a long run outside has nothing to do with exercise, fresh air, or fitness. As people run by me in the other direction, or I pass them along the road, I love to hear the very brief moment of conversation as they pass within earshot. I have ...
Once in a while, current events line up perfectly with the week’s Torah portion. So even though sometimes it feels like we’re approaching the end of civilized life, we actually find some parallels in the story of creation, which we read this week in Parshat Breisheet, comprised of the very first chapters of the Torah. ...
A number of years ago, the Israeli government needed to add a special fighter plane to its arsenal. The plane would cost $500 million, and the government didn't know where they were going to find the money. One professional fundraiser said, "No problem--we'll find 500 of the wealthiest Jews around the world and simply ask ...
