RJ Blog

by Billy Dreskin In this week’s double parashah, Acharei Mot/K’doshim, there’s a one-sentence reference to the mortal sin of Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, who brought “alien fire” into the Mishkan, which we read about in Parashat Sh’mini two weeks ago (see Leviticus 10:1–7). Here, as an introduction to the regulations regarding the Yom Kippur offerings, we read, “The Eternal One spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron who died when they drew too close to the presence of the Eternal” (Leviticus 16:1). Rabbi Bamberger writes, “Probably the sentence means simply, ‘They broke the rules and were punished’ ” [...]

Since we started reading Vayikra, I’ve been waiting for a chance to argue with my friend and teacher, Rabbi Billy Dreskin. We’ve worked together for years, and we often disagree. But we always learn from each other. His recent d’var torah is a perfect example. Billy is absolutely right in saying that many of us are looking for a closer relationship with God, and that there are only two prayers for closeness in the entire Siddur. But he’s also wrong. This past year, as a result of some difficult times in my life, I’ve started davening two or three mornings [...]

Of all the parashot in all the Torah scrolls in all the world, that one – Sh’mini – had to walk into my life this year – not once, but twice. Because our Reform observance does not include the extra days added by the Sages for communities outside the land of Israel, we spent an extra week on this portion. Much of the content is focused on kashrut. But the parashah includes as well one of the few narrative events of the entire book of Vayikra (Leviticus) – the tale of the death of the two older sons of Aaron. [...]

So What Is Prayer? It doesn’t have to be services or words, though it can be both. It can be a feeling that God is present. It doesn’t have to include asking for anything. It can be just awe or wonder, or a wave of affection breaking over you. It can be like plugging into an electric current. It can change while you’re praying. It can be surprise. It can be… Fill in the rest from your own experience. — Rabbi Lionel Blue and Rabbi Jonathan Magonet On Monday, I taught a lesson on tefilah to the students in our [...]

by Rabbi Jan Katzew A few days have passed since I came home to New York. But part of me, part of my soul, is still in Boulder, CO, where I attended a memorable retreat with 75 early childhood educators. I thought I was going to teach, but no, I actually went to learn. Rarely, if ever, have I experienced the combination of warmth and depth, openness and commitment, trust and faith that I witnessed for several days as we searched for and dare I say found God. We do not talk about God enough. We tend to dance around [...]

I read with great interest Rabbi Eric Yoffie’s February 10th blog piece on the Huffington Post entitled “Religious But Not Spiritual” . In his capacity as President of the Union for Reform Judaism and, especially, after four years of working under his leadership in this organization, I am among those who have had occasion to revel in his intellectual and moral rigor, his passionate voice for justice and his vision for our people – for all people – and of what can and should be expected of us. In the truest spirit of prophetic Judaism, Rabbi Yoffie always presents us [...]

by Stephanie Zinn Our congregation, M’kor Shalom of Cherry Hill, NJ, has introduced a unique program which has personally touched my soul. It is a monthly gathering, led by our own Rabbi Richard Address, entitled “How to Talk to your Child About…”  While the talk is open to everyone in our community, it is geared mostly toward preschool mothers like me, as the title suggests. Taking place directly after the rush of the morning drop-off, we enter our synagogue’s cozy chapel where chairs are arranged in a welcoming circle. A delicious selection of baked goods and warm tea or coffee [...]

by Frank J. Dyer, PhDMember of Congregation B’nai Jeshurun, Short Hills, NJ Rabbi Yoffie’s article The Search for God (RJM Summer, 2011) offers some profound advice that I found thought provoking, yet ultimately unsatisfying. The search for God takes on an ever greater importance and urgency for a particular segment of many Reform congregations. At present, many regular attendees at Friday night services are at a point in life where they are confronting issues of physical decline, loss, and questions about the meaningfulness of their lives.  Most of the solutions offered by Rabbi Yoffie have a certain palliative quality to [...]

by Leon AdatoOriginally published on The Edible Torah For a long time, I carried around with me a very depressing mental image for the Beatles song “Blackbird”. I would relate it here, but I’ve been told by enough people that it ruined their enjoyment of the song so I usually just keep it to myself. Not that my mental image inhibited my own love of the song. I took a fond, if somewhat morbidly melancholy, pleasure in singing it and hearing it performed. But it was never a happy song. Then, when my son Joram (who is now 10) was [...]

by Carol Gunnerson Prelude to the dawn: Without an alarm clock, I have a habit of waking up early… between 4:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m.  I do this because I love the peace and silence of those wee hours. I move about stealthfully… consciously… fixing tea without a sound. I don’t want any noises to disturb the gift of peace that is mine to savor!  I take my tea and sit outside in the stillness, opening to the Oneness I find there.  I am home in the Oneness. For me, this is the time when the very essence of creative [...]