Displaying 1 - 10 of 18
Stories We Tell: Don't Apologize to Me, Apologize to Him
Joseph, on his way to a new town, meets a beggar on the train. His beard is tangled, his clothing is tattered, and he appears to be dirty. When the beggar speaks to Joseph, Joseph responds that they probably shouldn’t speak to each other until they arrive at their destination. What happens next? Listen to this story, retold by Rabbi Marc Katz. For a written version of the story, read “Forgiveness” in Three Times Chai by Laney Katz Becker.
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Stories We Tell: The Scholar and the Merchant
When a scholar boards a ship with a group of merchants, the merchants are confused. What does a scholar have to sell that could compete with their radiant perfume and beautiful scarves? When pirates storm the ship, they find out in this story retold by Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism. You can find a written version of this story, titled “The Sefer Torah,” in the book Three Times Chai: 54 Rabbis Tell Their Favorite Stories by Laney Katz Becker.
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Stories We Tell: Whatever You Do, Don't Bite Off the Pitom
Every year Moshe begs his father for an etrog, and every year, his father says they can’t afford it, until one special Sukkot when they scrimp and save and finally bring home an etrog. But what happens when Moshe can’t resist the pitom and Boris the Beet Borscht Baron from Belarus with very strong hands comes to bless the etrog? As Rabbi Steven Bob reminds us, “Whatever You Do, Don’t Bite Off the pitom”!
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On the Other Hand: Ten Minutes of Torah -- Tazria: Healing the Spirit
In this week's Torah portion, Parashat Tazria, we learn about tza'ra'at, or leprosy. The weekly Mi Shebeirach prayer asks for healing, and we view prayer and visiting as part of the healing process. But is healing the same thing as a physical cure?
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Stories We Tell: The Power of Shabbat
A man walking on Shabbat comes across a bag of gold. Again and again, the bag of gold pleads with the man to take him home - how much good he could do with it! But the man refuses. Why would he do that and what does he end up with as his reward? And is there something you care about so much that you would miss a golden opportunity? This story is shared by Rabbi Leora Kaye, Director of Program for the Union For Reform Judaism.
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Stories We Tell: Learning About What Matters
How do you decide which of your actions matter? Can you repair damage you've done? Do you focus on what you avoid, or what you achieve? Listen to this story shared from a group of NFTY Convention 2019 participants. You can find a version of this story online at kidsworldfun.com.
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Wholly Jewish: Jordan: Black, Jewish, and Bettering the World
In this episode: Meet Jordan, a social justice leader, a loving family man and a mensch, who consistently and persistently strives to create a world that is steeped in awareness and kindness. Jordan reminds us to always follow the #1 rule when it comes to our world and our community – always try to leave it better than you found it.
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Stories We Tell: The Farmer and the Horse
Once, there lived a farmer who had a horse that he loved. But the horse kept getting injured, and the farmer kept trying to heal his horse. What was causing the problem - and how did he address the source of his horse's recurrent injury? This story is told by Rabbi Michael Namath, the Director of Leadership Development at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.
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Stories We Tell: God is Missing
Two brothers, Jesse and Bryan, got into trouble almost everywhere they went. At one point, their mother sent them to a rabbi, who asked them "where's God?" - causing panic in one of the brothers. Why do you think the panic ensued? You will hear the answer in this story told by Rabbi Evon Yakar of Temple Bat Yam in South Lake Tahoe, and North Tahoe Hebrew Congregation of Tahoe Vista, CA.
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On the Other Hand: Ten Minutes of Torah -- Passover II: Song of Songs
On Passover, it's traditional to read from Song of Songs, with themes of love and spring running throughout. This week, Rabbi Rick Jacobs reminds us that the themes in this megillah (scroll) match the themes of Passover - of beauty, renewal, and rebirth are key to the seas
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