Rape. Sexual assault. Sexual harassment. MeToo. Tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions of women are saying it. I’ve said…
Year: 2017
Sacred Text: Do the first few lines tell the whole story?
A sacred text begins carefully. Powerfully. Precisely. As it should — because the opening lines introduce a spiritual tradition. Just…
Sukkot: Our prophets recommend interfaith outreach
Sukkot is a great time for interfaith outreach. Twelve students are taking my graduate course on “Ritual and Sacred Ceremony”…
Teshuvah: Can it Change the Timeline of Your Past?
Can teshuvah – repentance, renewal, and return to God – change the past? In Parshat Haazinu (Deut. 32:1-32:52) Moses speaks to…
A Rosh Hashanah Ritual Riddle: How are dessert and liturgy alike?
Your Rosh Hashanah ritual riddle: how are sweet fruit crumble and the liturgy of Unetaneh Tokef alike? I’m asking for…
Political narrative keeping you prisoner? Time for a new Exodus!
Judaism has a “master story” that shapes our political narrative. It is, of course, the Exodus. One famous version goes like…
Rebellious Child: Torah's Tips for Facing Challenge
Stoning of the rebellious child. Holy One of Blessing! Help us understand why this text is in your Torah. You created…
Elijah came to Vancouver to test us. Did we pass?
You know the stories. Elijah crouches on the street corner, begging. She bangs on your door at midnight, fleeing an…
Antisemitism. Why some Christians don't repudiate it. And why many Christians do!
Can a Jewish blogger avoid writing about antisemitism this week? No, she cannot. She has written about it before. About…