Displaying 31 - 40 of 43
Stories We Tell: Cottage of Candles
When a man traveling the world in pursuit of justice walks into a dark forest, he discovers a cottage filled with oil candles, and he’s shown his designated candle. Listen in as Rabbi Fred Reeves shares the magical story of testing one’s moral compass.
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Stories We Tell: Map Of The World
Sometimes, it may feel like we live in a huge world and that coming together and mending our connections is an enormous task that will take forever. However, as Rabbi Phyllis Sommer reminds us with this week’s story, Map of The World, sometimes, all it takes is one very smart class, a new perspective and a little tape.
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Stories We Tell: Small Things
A lovely stroll in the woods, a simple question from an astute 9 year old, and a little snow, remind us that often times it’s the small things that can make the biggest difference. This week, Rabbi Leora Kaye shares the wonderful tale of Small Things, based on a true story from Alice Myers.
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On the Other Hand: Ten Minutes of Torah: Two Jews, Three Opinions, One Heart -Parashat Chayei Sarah
Sometimes, what isn't said is more provoking than what is said.
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Stories We Tell: Happiness
Once upon a time a king fell seriously ill, and nobody could figure out how to cure his ailment. Finally, a healer suggested a remedy: if the king could wear the shirt of a person who was absolutely happy, he would be healed. So, a team set out to find a person who was absolutely happy. Did they succeed? Shira Kline, performance and ritual artist and director of worship at Lab/Shul retells the story.
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Stories We Tell: Finding God on the Mountain
A man was told that he could find God at the top of the highest mountain, so he climbed to the peak and waited patiently for God to show up. Join Rabbi Phyllis Sommer as she tells this story about what it truly means to find God in ways we might have never even considered.
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Stories We Tell: The Weight Of One Good Deed
A wealthy man dies at the age of 120. He wasn't a particularly good man, nor a particularly bad one. So, when asked by the heavenly court if he can think of a truly good deed he's done that will outweigh the bad, he recalls one in particular. However, he needs some help from his defending angel attorney to make his deed look better than it actually was. Originally included in the collection Three Times Chai by Rabbi Yitz Greenberg, this story compels us to reexamine our own deeds and if they can truly measure up on their own.
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Stories We Tell: The Dancing Bear
All is not always what it seems, as we learn when a man from Pinsk tricks a woman in Minsk with a dancing bear and a very sweet Minchah (afternoon service). Join Rabbi Steven Bob, as he shares the tale of “The Dancing Bear”.
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Stories We Tell: The Seed
The king, who is ready to retire, is holding a contest to find his successor. He gives seeds to all of the young people in the kingdom, and tells them whoever can grow the finest tree, plant, or crop will become king. A young boy with a green thumb knows that he has a real shot at winning, but no matter what he does, he can’t seem to make these plants grow. Can he make it work in time? Rabbi Matthew Gewirtz retells the story.
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Stories We Tell: Chiribim
Years ago, the Chiribim and Chiribam families were enemies--but, the feud had been going on for so long that nobody could even remember how it began! Eventually, the rabbi decided that he would bring the families together and urge them to make peace. He asked both families to meet him in the forest, but after forgetting his glasses, the plan became difficult to carry through. Was the rabbi able to bring the families together? Cantor Rosalie Will retells the story. You can find a written version of the story in Stories for Peace by Mark Binder.
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