God's Tears Are Our Own: How To Respond to the Horror of the School Shooting in Connecticut
Franz Kafka tells the story of a little girl who was late arriving home one day. Her mother asked her where she was. The girl said that she saw her friend Ruthie on her way home, and Ruthie’s doll had broken.
"Give 'Em All Guns"
In response to last week's tragedy in Newtown, CT, Rabbi Joe Black of Temple Emanuel in Denver, CO, a noted Reform Jewish musician, wrote a song called "Give 'Em All Guns," which he shared on YouTube.
A Virtual Family Hanukkah Celebration
This year, I had an incredible Hanukkah experience with my family even though we live nowhere near each other. It all started with the realization that it’s possible to have multiple people on video chat. This sparked an idea to get the extended family together for the holiday.
Parenting Thoughts: Helping Kids Cope With Tragedy
The grief of the past few days has been unimaginable. Many of us are torn between watching and listening to the 24/7 onslaught of media coverage and the desire to turn off everything imaginable and run away into a world where horrific events could never ever take place.
Menorahs, Doughnuts, and Friends: A Hanukkah Shabbat
I remember my first Hanukkah at my temple with my family.
Gun Worship Is Blasphemy
Above all, let us remember this: Sensible gun control is a religious issue.
The indiscriminate distribution of guns is an offense against God and humanity.
Be a Lamplighter: A Reflection on Newtown and Darkness
I have a bunch of blog posts brewing in my head, but felt like I couldn't write anything until I wrote about Newtown. But, what could I say? What can I say?
My Religious Philosophy
A few years ago, at a rabbinic meeting in Boston, we were asked to write a statement, which could be read in 30 seconds or less, about Judaism and the role we play as clergy. Obviously, the exercise was to force us to identify the essence of our religion in a clear and concise manner.
Hanukkah & Christmas: Can We Celebrate Both?
For parents of different faiths, December often brings holiday challenges. For divorced parents with joint custody, these challenges can be amplified.