Hear Our Voice

When does the story of the Exodus begin?  Some might say, the tenth plague, others, the burning bush, but I would argue it was the moment when Moses sees the taskmaster beating the Israelite slave, approaches the taskmaster and kills him in the slave’s defense.  Moses is transformed, and the ramp up to...Read more...

The word shanah in Hebrew means, “year.”  Thus Rosh Hashanah, of course, literally means, “Head of the year.” However, when we look deeper into the word, shanah, we find that at its root, it means, “change.”  And that in essence, more than “head,” rosh can refer to what is in the head, wisdom.  “Rosh Hashanah” can thus come to mean, “The wisdom to change.”  We find this same theme in the Hebrew word...Read more...

“When I was a professor at a right-leaning college, I was accused of being a self-hating leftist Jew.  Now that I am a professor at a left-leaning college, I am accused of being a Zionist conspirator.”  These words from our fantastic Scholar in Residence last weekend, Dr. Marc Dollinger, have rung in my ears ever since I heard them articulated. 

For so much of our modern history, Jews and Judaism have served as the...Read more...

Timeframe: July c. 1985

Location: Camp Swig, Saratoga, CA

Milieu: a hot summer camp cabin with no A.C., a bunch of teenagers sitting and lying on their bunks, waiting for “Menuchah” (rest hour) to be over

Dear Mom and Dad,

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Dear Houston,

Some of you may have received (or at least heard about) a survey sent to all HISD parents, asking folks to vote on the date of the 2020 Fall holiday.  Since I moved to Houston in 2011, I have understood that this day has purposefully been scheduled for either Rosh Hashanah day or Yom Kippur day.  From this Rabbi’s perspective, it had always struck me as quite sensitive and endearing that this was the process...Read more...

35 years ago, I had an amazing and most memorable summer camp counselor.  The funny thing is that I don’t remember much of anything he said, but I do completely remember the way he made me feel.  “Moshe” made me feel proud and he made me feel smart and he made me feel interesting.  I do remember one thing he said, as vividly as if I heard him say it today.  On a campout, following our kumzitz (camp fire), he led us...Read more...

A week, 10 days ago, Natalie and I were both working from home, when Natalie rushed upstairs with an announcement that over the years, I have learned to take seriously. “Fire!”, “I smell fire!” she exclaimed, which caused me to jump up and pay attention. We both walked around, trying to draw near to the source, and slowly but surely (well it was quicker than in my recollection), we both drew near to the laundry closet. Opening the...Read more...

Years ago (I can say that, now that I am 50!), Natalie and I were trained as facilitators by the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (now the Union for Reform Judaism) for a series of “outreach” programs for interfaith families. A title of one of the most often quoted books for the programs was, “I’m Jewish, You’re Christian, What are the Kids?”  One of the most “heart-wrenching” sessions we were taught to teach and...Read more...

Thanksgiving!  For most of us, it is a time to look forward, whether we are in or out of town, to gather with family and friends.  For many, this is an “official” time of year, not any less important than gathering for the High Holy Days or Passover.  It is historically for Jewish families, (at least as far as America is concerned), a very welcomed, secular holiday that doesn’t challenge notions of the “kosherness” of...Read more...

For much of the 20th and so far in the 21st century, and let’s face it, for most of Jewish existence, the “Oy Gevalts” over our existence have been a constant of Jewish life.  From the new book, The 100 Most Jewish Foods: A Highly Debatable List, regarding Horseradish, “Let the WASPs have their Worcestershire; leave it to the Jews to turn suffering into a craving.” 

Sociologists and historians, genealogists and...Read more...