Judaism

Judaism

Long As God Can Grow It

Is that a mop on your head or are you just counting the Omer? Or how I ended up observing the Omer in spite of myself.

Judaism

Omer Is My Siddur? (Alone on a Shelf)

Using Judaism's traditional seven-week period of mourning as inspiration to return to a 'three-a-day the Jewish way' prayer practice.

Judaism

Personal Pesach Posek

How the Sadducees, the Sanhedrin, and Sweet Brown led Ryan and me to a observe a seven-day Passover holiday.

Judaism

What Would Jesus Not Do?

It's amazing how much we're willing as a human race to insult and hurt each other--and ultimately, ourselves--often mortally so, just to prove that the things we believe are right.

Judaism

The Amidah Project: Three a Day the RJ Way

A reader asked how a Reform Jew can learn to pray Judaism's traditional three weekday prayers. Here's my guide on using Mishkan T'filah, the current RJ prayerbook, to do just that.

Judaism

Sixteen Christmases and a Chanukah Bush

Last year, I rejected the Jewish 'December dilemma' by forging a new December holiday tradition. This year, the Eitz Moed rose once again--with much joy and no angst required.

Judaism

A Badge to Visit Your Rabbi (Video)

Overly earnest security measures can carry a great price. They can make of our synagogues unnecessarily unwelcoming places. I explore that idea in this video post.

Judaism

Rock, Paper, Scissors, Synagogue

When I left New York, I promised myself I would not support the creation of the same type of useless security measures that ultimately devoured my hometown. And now my synagogue wants to create one.

Judaism

The Big Idea Is Jewish

Changes on my blog since September have been designed to take Chicago Carless all Jewish all the time. Here's why.

Judaism

The Tallit of Phillip Shenkler--UPDATE

I'm happy to report the tallit of Phillip Shenkler got a hero's welcome this morning--its first Shabbat morning in use in a congregational setting in at least 26 years.

Judaism

The Tallit of Phillip Shenkler

Phillip kept the the memorial booklet from Sara's funeral in his tallit bag for 32 years until the day he died...and no one knew it until I opened the bag another 26 years later.

Judaism

The Amidah Project: Modeh Ani (Video)

The Modeh Ani: prayer upon waking or jaunty country song? It's how I greet the world every morning, thanking God for the gift of another day. But I'm never able to get a certain Kol B'Seder melody out of my head. And that's okay. Gratitude is never something to be embarrassed about.