Tag Archives: Tefillah (prayer)

Bitter Honey

Posted on September 21, 2012 by

This morning I sat down with my cup of tea and the last of the Rosh HaShannah honey cake.  As the cats raced around the house, I opened The New York Times to find an article about divisive religious hate … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel, Teaching/Education, Tefillah (prayer), Torah | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What’s Love Got to Do With it? Sh’ma Love

Posted on August 5, 2012 by

This is cross posted from the blog Davenspot where I was honored to be a guest blogger. When I lead services, regardless of whether it is for kids or adults, I love to explain my take on the Sh’ma and … Continue reading →

Posted in God, Spirituality, Teaching/Education, Tefillah (prayer), Torah | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Have You Had Your Mah Gadlu Moment Today?

Posted on July 5, 2012 by

Life keeps handing me these moments.  So here is Mah Gadlu, Part 2 This week I saw the most amazing 4th of July fireworks over the Hudson River.  Even with a partial view from a roof top half way across … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel, Music, Spirituality, Tefillah (prayer) | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Blogging the Torah: Parashat Korah, REBELLION-SCHMELLION

Posted on June 20, 2012 by

Scene opens:  The people are dancing and doing all sorts of debauchery around the golden calf.  They have given up on their leader.  He’s been up on the mountain too long and they think he was eaten by a wolf … Continue reading →

Posted in God, Israel, Music, Spirituality, Teaching/Education, Tefillah (prayer), Torah | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

LET THE MIDRASH BE OUR GUIDE!

Posted on May 7, 2012 by

Why do we do this? The midrash says… I have often heard these lines and even said them myself.  We use the body of literature known as the midrash to interpret the Torah, the law, and our rituals so that … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching/Education, Torah | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

In Search of Sparks

Posted on May 3, 2012 by

Ask a little kid how old they are and you will very rarely get a round number.  Instead of 4 years old they might say, “I’m four and three quarters” or “I’m going to be five in thirty-four days.” Kids … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel, Jewish Holidays, Pesach, Tefillah (prayer), Torah | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Object is Permanent

Posted on March 28, 2012 by

A few weeks ago, I heard a d’var Torah about how, as the Israelites wandered in the desert, God appeared to them as a cloud during the day and fire during the night. As a psychologist, the speaker linked this … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching/Education, Tefillah (prayer), Torah | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Big Question. Or, at least, one of them.

Posted on March 19, 2012 by

Ellen DeGeneres used to do a bit about how, with so many people praying all the time, God’s answering machine must be really full.  I thought about this when Tal, a fifth-grade student asked the big question, “How can God … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching/Education, Tefillah (prayer), Torah | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Shehecheyanu Moment, For All The Wonders

Posted on March 16, 2012 by

Yesterday I heard something that I had not heard in a while.  I was standing in my kitchen, just making a cup of tea in the middle of the morning, and there it was.  It was a simple chirp.  Nothing … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel, Teaching/Education, Tefillah (prayer), Torah | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Blogging the Torah: Parashat B’Shallach…Miriam and a couple of Deborahs

Posted on February 1, 2012 by

And the women dancing with their timbrels followed Miriam as she sang her song sing the song to the One we’ve exalted Miriam and the women dance, and danced the whole night long                 … Continue reading →

Posted in Tefillah (prayer), Torah | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment