Blogging

Drunk History

The first time I was drunk was at a New Year’s Eve party. In the spirit of the celebration, I imbibed a few too many Harvey Wallbangers.  (For those under 50 see Wikipedia). The evening included some embarrassing activities. I was pleased…

Losing My Religion?

Before Covid, Judaism had begun to crumble. With Covid, the house is caving in. We can’t just plan to redecorate while the building is falling. We must both restore the structure and make some major renovations. Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi…

Parents, Spiritual Sukkah Builders

What is the role of a parent in a child’s spiritual life? The Jewish holiday season, from Rosh Hashanah through to Shemini Atzeret, employs the theme of the parent child relationship. Through psalms and prayers, we reflect on the spiritual…

Listen Up!

Haazinu, the first word of the penultimate Torah portion read on September 26, practically screams in Hebrew, LISTEN UP! So you’ve been in a bit of a pandemic stupor. Your brain hurts from worrying. Your eyes hurt from looking at screens. Your…

Is That Too Baffling For You?

“Surely, this Instruction which I enjoin upon you this day is not too baffling for you, nor is it beyond reach.” Deuteronomy 30:11 Why can’t people do as they are told? Or at least, why can’t many Americans do as they are advised?…

We Get Knocked Down

Judaism, as we have known it, got a kick in the teeth in 2020 or 5780. Judaism was already on its knees so the teeth were an easy target. Covid-19 has not been kind to Jewish institutions and Jewish practices. Twentieth Century style Judaism…

The Virus and Your Stuff

Have you heard about the burglar that fell through a high school's skylight, was injured, sued and won a bunch of money? Property owners have a duty of care to maintain the safety of the premises for those who come onto the property.  This…

Not Gone with the Wind

The movie Gone with the Wind has recently sparked controversy.  The 80-year-old film depicting slavery and racism in the South was previously considered a masterpiece of cinema. Now it is at the heart of a debate about whether the movie should…

I’ll Take You There

The Staple Singers reached number one in 1972 with their hit, “I’ll take you there.” I remembered this song while reading through Deuteronomy! The final book of the Torah recalls Moses’ leadership, taking the Hebrews to the edge of the…

Exam Nightmare

Do you still have nightmares about missing a test in school? Or failing out of a class? Amazing how these school time traumas continue to haunt us so many years later. Preparing for school exams was a traumatic test by itself. Now imagine if…