Judaism is faith-based, but not based on faith. At least, it is not based solely on faith. We would not talk about the Jewish people, Jewishness, Jewish identity, or antisemitism if Judaism was only about beliefs or tenets and their consequent behaviors. Rather, Judaism is multifaceted and multilayered, especially given its survival over millennia. As we approach the holiday of Shavuot this week, it matters…
When something in life is unfair, or even just feels it, we are likely to cry out for some redress. Do we merely lament that someone got something that we did not or do we demand it be taken away from them? Do we argue for an equal or equivalent share or do we wallow in our misery? All of these reactions, and more besides,…
One of the oldest book clubs is about to reconvene for its annual meeting. This year, careful consideration is being given to the question of how best to maintain order, after all the meeting is called seder, meaning “order.” For some, order will come from the right guest list, gathering family and friends who know each other well enough to stay together, even if they…
I love a good story. Indeed, the more challenging my life, my work, or the world around me seems, the more I seek out stories. In quiet moments, I will read a book–fantasy, thriller, sci-fi, even romance–to explore an alternate world and perspective. In my career, I go out of my way to hear people’s personal stories, letting their experiences expand my perspectives. So here…
“Two wrongs do not make a right.” This bit of moral advice often goes unheeded, especially when tensions are high. Where the advice becomes a challenge or even falls flat is when one wrong does not seem so wrong, maybe even is a right. Recently, I learned about an even trickier two-some; polarities thinking recognizes that more often we have two rights, or really two…
Optimism is hard to come by these days. From the weather to Philly sports to politics and global affairs, there is so much to lament. I count myself lucky that winter is not usually a downer for me. As I looked for inspiration to hold onto the light of the holiday season or to the growing light of each day, I found myself thinking about…
There is much more to Hanukkah than we normally talk about. From the origin story to the early celebrations and from there to the historical challenges of celebrating and to the themes that emanate today, Hanukkah was never just one thing. In typical Jewish fashion, Hanukkah has always been about at least two truths. That these truths have coexisted in Jewish consciousness and practice is…
What if I were more of a mystic? Would my religious experience be something I physically feel as some sort of spiritual shift from the everyday world? I know I am too much in my head and too much in the details of life to be a mystic, but I do wonder what it might be like to have more of the mystical in my…
I am so not ready for the Jewish New Year. I wish I meant that I am still holding onto summer; after all, it has been hot enough. I also wish I meant that I need to menu plan, shop, and cook for Rosh Hashanah meals; that would not be true, though. No, what I mean is that all of the ritual tools meant to…
It is not easy to make room for God in today’s world. Distractions, divisions, and drudgery are in opposition to awe and wonder. With mixed messages about the possibilities of the future, the present fills with work and stress, pushing aside recovery and gratitude. There are moments when it may be easy to feel blessed or to offer thanks, but too often those moments do…
Summers are full of stories. From vacation travels to family gatherings, we often leave home and visit other places and people. Sometimes these trips become their own traditions like time at the beach or the ballpark, and sometimes it’s more simply time at the pool or the ice cream parlor. The result of our summer experiences is that we have stories, rich in depth and…