While in Israel, I had the opportunity to visit the Kotel three times. On one visit, the plaza was nearly…
Category: Prayer
Bnei Mitzvah Artists
Parents and fellow educators, this update is for you! Our class is a hands-on group of creative artists and thinkers.…
Prayerbook Fun
How do you make “Jewish spiritual wisdom” available to 12-year olds, as they prepare for bar and bat mitzvah? Last…
Adon Haselichot: Poetic longing for forgiveness
Adon Haselichot, “Master of Pardons” A piyyut (Hebrew liturgical poem) written somewhere in the Middle East sometime between the eleventh and…
Heart of Compassion
Dvar Torah (Sermon) from Rosh Hashanah 5772 (2011) Link to it here.
Letting Go: Hatarat Nedarim
Hatarat Nedarim, absolution of vows, is a recommended preparation for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, the day of “turning over…
God's True Name
Sometimes people ask me, why, in Judaism, is there a reluctance to pronounce God’s true name out loud? Historical answers…
Dare to Pray
For a few days now, I’ve watched a tiny spider flash across my windshield. No insects live in my car,…
I Just Called to Say "I Love You"
Friday morning I was waiting for the bus on Fraser Street in front of a convenience store. Gradually, amid the…