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God, Kabbalah, Torah

Creation in Kabbalah

October 17, 2020
Creation in Kabbalah

Genesis: A non-literal Creation story Creation: the beginning of the Torah. A great time to reflect on how we read. Also, on what we may find when we read thoughtfully! For example, the creation story is supposed to provide a religious foundation. But when we read it carefully, we may question those very foundations. We…

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Jewish Practices, Philosophy, Torah, Wisdom

Kohelet: Life, Politics, Spirit

October 4, 2020
Kohelet: Life, Politics, Spirit

What is Kohelet (Ecclesiastes)? It’s a work of existential philosophy, about the meaning of life. A political critique, looking realistically at life under monarchy, and how one can safely resist abuses. And a work of spiritual wisdom, teaching about equanimity under stress. Traditionally, Jews read this Biblical book each fall, during the holiday of Sukkot.…

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Political, Psychology, Wisdom

Neighbourhood Tensions Rise

October 3, 2020
Neighbourhood Tensions Rise

COVID-19 has thrown some of us closer together. But not always for the best. At least, not in my neighbourhood. I live in Vancouver, Canada, in a trendy urban neighbourhood. Here, small one-family homes crowd close together. Old trees and thick hedges surround them. Crows, ravens, woodpeckers, and songbirds fill the landscape. So do racoons,…

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Political, Torah

End Times: How to Hope

October 2, 2020
End Times: How to Hope

Yes, we are living in the end times, says the prophet Zechariah. We are always living in the end times. So he tells us in his prophetic book, whose last chapter (14) we read in synagogue on Sukkot, the Feast of Booths. But Zechariah sees the end times as a good thing. Why? God, he…

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Jewish Practices, Prayer

Whom Can I Accuse?

October 1, 2020
Whom Can I Accuse?

“Whom can I accuse, of whom revenge demand, when I have borne deep suffering at my own hand?” This whole service video is beautiful—and I especially want to share these first six minutes of teaching and music with you. (Yes, it is me and Charles together!) Thanks to Rabbi Hannah Dresner for coordinating & leading…

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God, Love, Wisdom

From Judgment to Love

September 30, 2020
From Judgment to Love

Day of Judgment Traditionally, Rosh Hashanah is the Day of Judgment. But in real life, every day is the Day of Judgment. Every day God places a new challenge in our paths. Every day we get to decide how we are going to respond. Every day is the Day of Judgment, but some days are…

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Dreams, God, Kabbalah, Philosophy, Spirituality

Infinity: God in My Soul

September 17, 2020
Infinity: God in My Soul

Infinity: A perfect topic for my interview on this innovative podcast. It’s called PTR: Philosophy, Theology, and Religious studies. Or, if you prefer, “Poststructuralist Tent Revival.” PTR is hosted by Jacob Given, a doctoral student at Villanova University. Here we discuss ideas from my book The Infinity Inside: infinity, kabbalah, God’s existence, dreams, and mystical…

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Jewish Practices, Wisdom

Teshuva Builds Community

September 17, 2020
Teshuva Builds Community

Social scientists say: People who belong to spiritual communities are happier. Why? More opportunities for connecting. Giving. And learning, through ritual, how to be with others. Including the Ten Days of Teshuvah, a Jewish New Year ritual for healing ruptures between friends and family.

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Jewish Practices, Political, Psychology

Synagogue Life in COVID-19: Care, Conflict, and Teshuvah

September 15, 2020
Synagogue Life in COVID-19: Care, Conflict, and Teshuvah

A family friend of ours died this summer, from COVID-19 complications. I was the officiating rabbi at his burial. No tahara, ritual washing of his body, had been permitted. We, a small group of twelve, gathered at the graveside. Each of us wore a mask and disposable gloves. We stood six feet apart. After the…

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Feminism, Political, Torah

Trafficking Biblical Women

August 29, 2020
Trafficking Biblical Women

Sex trafficking. It’s in the news. A Q-Anon theory that sex trafficking is rampant. And only Trump can stop it. After all, “he” arrested Epstein and Maxwell. Anyone can argue that this is factually false. (See below.) But I’m not going to talk facts. Well, maybe briefly. But then I’m going to look at human…

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Book Cover The Infinity Inside showing religious symbols inside a stylized forest

Recent Posts

  • Pray for Peace? January 19, 2021
  • Simon, the Worst Brother December 18, 2020
  • Hanukah’s Hidden Light December 11, 2020
  • Tenth Anniversary Party November 21, 2020
  • A Dream of Dad November 20, 2020

Classes, Services, Events

Thu 21

Sacred Texts and Oral Traditions

January 21 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm PST
Sun 24

Sulam on Sophia Street (Blog 10th Anniversary Concert)

January 24 @ 6:00 pm - 7:15 pm PST
Wed 27

Writing the Animal Book

January 27 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm PST
Sat 30

Deborah the Warrior Bee

January 30 @ 9:30 am - 12:00 pm PST
Feb 28

Jung, Kabbalah, and the Spirit of Our Times

February 28 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm PST

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Favourite Blogs

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  • The Torah: Historical-Contextual Approach
  • State of Formation

Header Photo Credits

Laura outdoors: Charles Kaplan; Torah scroll: Anita Fonseca-Quezada
Rabbi Laura Duhan-Kaplan on Sophia Street
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