You Can’t Spin Away Ignorance

Jews cannot win when it comes to money: If we wait for that sale or clip coupons, we’re called cheap and greedy; if we choose to be indulgent, we’re called rich and elitist.

In the 21st century, I was hoping that we had evolved beyond these stereotypes. But then South Carolinian Republican Party officials Edwin Merwin, Jr., and Jim Ulmer came to the defense of their U.S. Senator Jim DeMint.

Social Act!on

In the aftermath of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services, I hope that we have been able to start a new year with a clean slate. There are many ways to tap into Judaism’s wisdom to add meaning to our lives. One way is by responding to the prophetic call for justice and engaging in social action.

Deepened Interfaith Ties

I hope that everyone has been making the most of the past days to reflect upon the previous year. We are not to remain passive during the days in between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Rather, we are to seek out those we have hurt in any way and do the best we can to atone.

At the same time, we are to look with optimism and hope to the year that will be. We have been invited to take part in a valuable interfaith gathering on Oct. 14, a mere 16 days after Yom Kippur. This will be an amazing way to start 5770 with style.

You Think Only Jews Fast?

I have a running joke with a local imam (Muslim religious leader): Whenever we serve on an inter-religious community panel discussing a particular topic, we both want to go first. Why? Because after I give my answer about what Judaism teaches, and it’s his turn, he can only say, “ditto.” If he goes first and gives his answer about what Islam teaches, I can only say, “ditto.”

Through my 11 years of being a rabbi, I have learned that much more unites Islam and Judaism than divides us.

On Tuesday evening, September 8, at 7:00 at Temple B’nai Israel’s Blumenthal Wing, we will learn what Muslims and Jews share about fasting.

Can Technology Be Sacred?

Don’t be confused when you walk into the Esther Greenberg Chapel for worship this Friday at 6:30. I say this because you will find a screen to the side of the bema, next to the ark.  You will not have stumbled on a lecture or a movie. Instead, we will be trying an experiment: Can projecting the words from our liturgy and the lyrics to our music to a wide screen add to the sanctity of the worship service?

You Call This Democracy?

I have been doing my best to track reactions to efforts to reform our health care system. Granted, I have not been able to wade through the thousand-page bill making its way through Congress (and I wonder if any of our congresspeople have either). I want to focus on what is happening at town halls and behind the scenes and draw a depressing conclusion:

Our democracy is seriously wounded.

Twisted Morality

Congregants be on alert: If you come to me with a money-laundering scheme or plans to sell organs on the black market, I have a legal responsibility and moral imperative to contact the authorities. If I learn that a congregant is allegedly suffering from Munchausen Syndrome and is systematically starving her child, I have a legal responsibility and moral imperative to contact the authorities.

If only my respective rabbinic colleagues felt the same way.

Abolish Tisha B’Av?

On Thursday evening, July 30, we are going to engage in a counter-intuitive commemoration: the observance of Tisha B’Av.

“Tisha B’What?” you may ask.

A Sacred Addition

The structure located at 4901 N. Pennsylvania Ave. is much more than a temple. It is a campus. On Thursday, July 9 we broke ground for a sacred addition: A Holocaust Memorial.

Witnessing Change in Iran?

What is happening in Iran is intriguing, fascinating, confusing, and amazing. The recent election and convoluted aftermath have become political footballs in our country and throughout the west.  In today’s technological age, anyone can voice his or her opinion. (and they are…)
The repercussions on Israel, the United States and the West of what is happening right now in Iran could be staggering.
With this blog, I will be quite brief. The best site I have been tracking is on the Huffington Post. It includes a blog by Nico Pitney. He is devoting hours to collect links, twitters, e-mails, video, translations, and on, and on, and on. He has done the hard work for us.
I can imagine some of you may be biased against the Huffington Post. The bottom line is that despite the political leanings of this Web site, Pitney’s content is highly impressive.
I encourage you to visit this site but also to respond with suggestions of other sites to visit. Let’s engage in dialogue. I want to hear your opinion of what is happening in Iran, why it is happening, and how it is or is not in our best interests.
What an amazing time to be alive!