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Category Archives: Torah
My Father’s Chest of Drawers: Parashat Shelach
If you told me that my father would outlive my mother, I would have said you were crazy. After all, he was eight years older than her and suffered with Parkinson’s and macular degeneration for years. But somehow, he managed … Continue reading
What a Difference A Week Makes: Loss in the Age of Covid-19
Just two weeks ago, we had a luncheon in a restaurant to celebrate my spouse’s birthday. When people arrived, we joked about not kissing and hugging. When we parted, most of us forgot about the new protocol and joyfully hugged … Continue reading
Posted in Judaism, Torah
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I’M ANGRY
I’m angry. I am so angry. And I’ve had it. Shabbat is one of my favorite times of the week. Sometimes, I am teaching or leading some sort of service. Sometimes, as today, I can have a leisurely day. Avoiding … Continue reading
Posted in Judaism, Torah
Tagged Eitz Chayim Hi Congregation, gun violence, Judaism, Pittsburgh, Tree of Life Congregation
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The Year of Repairing Gail: My Adventures in Healthcare
When I was young, my parents were not big on attending doctors. We went for our annual exams for school, but they didn’t run for every ache and fever. Take an aspirin and go to school was their philosophy. While … Continue reading
Posted in God, Judaism, Tefillah (prayer), Torah
Tagged copay, health insurance, healthcare, Judaism
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Blogging the Torah: Parashat Chayei Sarah, Matriarchs Galore
Thanksgiving weekend seemed an appropriate time to think about the matriarchs in our lives. First, there were the matriarchs at many of our Thanksgiving tables. At mine their were two, my mother and my brother’s mother-in-law. Then there is … Continue reading
Posted in Judaism, Torah, Women
Tagged A Chorus Line, Gilmore Girls, Hagar, Kelly Bishop, maids, Parashat Chayei Sarah
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Blogging the Torah: Parashat Vayeira, Ishmael, Isaac, and the Rabbi’s Bathroom
A few weeks ago a pipe burst in the ceiling above our tub. The building quickly repaired it and covered it up for a few weeks. When it came time to make sure that the pipe was holding, we decided … Continue reading
Posted in Judaism, Spirituality, Teaching/Education, Torah
Tagged Hagar, Isaac, Ishmael, Parashat Vayera., Sarah, Torah
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Blogging the Torah: Parashat Noach, From Shelach to Lecha
This weekend I was in my happy place, singing with 75 of my closest friends at an annual program called Shabbat Shira held in the woods of Wisconsin. Held at the URJ’s camp Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute, this is … Continue reading
Posted in Judaism, Spirituality, Torah
Tagged election, hineni, journey, Julie Silver, Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute, OSRUI, Parashat Lech L'Cha, Parashat Noach, Shabbat Shira, Shira Kline
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IN MITZRAYIM: ON THE BANKS OF DENIAL
On the rare occasion that my spouse and I encounter someone who just doesn’t get it, whatever “it” is, we might say to each other, they’re in Mitzrayim, the biblical word for Egypt. We don’t even need to use the … Continue reading
Posted in God, Jewish Holidays, Tefillah (prayer), Torah
Tagged Deborah Lipstadt, denial, Holocaust, libel, Mitzrayim, Trump, truth
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Blogging the Torah: Parashat Shemot, What Happened?
It seems almost appropriate that this week’s Torah portion is read on the cusp of a new year as it represents a transitional time for the Israelite people. We have just ended the book of Bereshit (Genesis). The Israelites have … Continue reading
“The Other” Is You
In preparation for the new season of Downton Abbey, PBS ran a behind-the-scenes show the other night. I was struck by their insistence on propriety. Clothing, posture, and manners must adhere to the period. (Although, we have caught a few … Continue reading
Posted in Judaism, Teaching/Education, Tefillah (prayer), Torah
Tagged Abraham, Amalek, Bereshit, civility, compassion, Emily Post, God, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob, Jonah, Joseph, Noach, Parashat Vayechi, politics, sorry, teshuvah, Torah
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