Rabbinic Reflections: Sleigh bells ring

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Symbols of the three pillars of the Abrahamic tradition. (Image from https://touristjourney.com/tours/hanukkah-in-jerusalem-evening-tour/)

Do you hear the sounds? Imagine what had once been the noisiest place in the region, bereft of its normal occupants, quiet in the wake of a war only just won, with a small number of victors searching and searching and searching. Occasionally those few would find a container only to discard it, moving on to look for another, until finally, finally, they found one…

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Rabbinic Reflections: Harvesting the whole self

A Greek salad. Thirty years later, I still remember salivating over the perfect blend of salty feta, crunchy lettuce, flavorful olives, and tangy vinaigrette. The first few times the salad was from Renato Pizza in Swarthmore; in subsequent years, I would order from whatever place I could find. Over time, the tradition gave way to bagels and cream cheese or pizza (though I probably had…

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Exploring Hope: Why many versions of the Bible?

If you go into a bookstore and make your way to the Bible section, you'll see countless English translations: ESV, NASB, KJV, NKJV, NIV, CSV, NEB, NLT, etc. But why are there so many versions of the Bible? First, it's important to know that the 66 books of the Bible were originally written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and koine Greek. Therefore, translations seek to bring these…

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Rabbinic Reflections: The purpose of power

What does the New Year celebrate? The Jewish New Year, Rosh HaShanah, is two weeks away. As part of Judaism’s Days of Awe, it is rich in meaning, and interpreted in many ways throughout the ages. On this 9/11, those interpretations take on additional resonance. Tonight, my neighborhood will place luminaries along our sidewalks to remember the lives lost, the lives changed, and the lights…

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Exploring Hope: A news consumption challenge

Coronavirus. China and Taiwan. Russia and Ukraine. Inflation and recession.  Headlines in the modern world are scary and cause a lot of fear and anxiety in the human heart. But how many hours a day do you consume news media? How many news podcasts do you listen to? How many hours a day do you find yourself watching cable news? I’m not proposing complete abstinence…

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Rabbinic Reflections: Life is full

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Olives on the tree. (Image from https://www.myolivetree.com/symbolism-olive-tree-jewish-faith/)

Did you see John Moran’s glass olive in episode five of “Blown Away,” season three? It was not just gorgeous, it was immense. Granted the challenge was to make an oversized version of a real-life object, but his glass olive was so full of color and texture, including the pimento stuffed inside, also made of glass. The glass olive seemed to have more life than…

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Exploring Hope: Two biographies on First Great Awakening

I encourage every Christian to read and study church history because it is helpful to see the successes and failures of past generations. This fall, in particular, I would encourage you to pick up two biographies about two men during a remarkable period called the First Great Awakening, which was a revival of true gospel Christianity between 1720 and 1750. The first biography I would…

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Rabbinic Reflections: Gaming time

Summertime is a different time. With graduations, step-up days, the shift from school to camp, taking vacations, and so much more, time counts differently. It is not just that there are more hours of the day, something in our mindset changes, too. For me, baseball becomes prominent, and something about the game resonates deeply with Jewish wisdom that speaks to this moment. Psalm 90:12 implores,…

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Exploring Hope: Consumer or missionary?

There is a spiritual disease in modern America called “consumer Christianity.” This disease is rampant among evangelical and reformed believers, especially in wealthy suburbs like Garnet Valley and Chadds Ford. But at its root, consumer Christianity is an unbiblical mindset that turns Christians into consumers and churches into businesses. So here’s my question: Are you a Consumer Christian or a Christian missionary? If you’re not…

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