Rabbi Jim‘s Podcast

The Tale of Two Stories

Shalom and thank you for joining me.  Recently I was in the Negev on a trip to visit Bedouin towns.  As we sat on the bus we were introduced to the Inter-Agency Task Force on Israeli Arab Issues.  We listened as Avivit Hai, one of the representatives of this group, shared one aspect of the story that plays out in Israeli society today.  NOTE: this recording was made on a bus and is not the best, however I think that the story you will hear will help you better understand one of the many complex issues we never see in the American press.

Honor and Striving - Pirkei Avot Helps Me Make The Right Decision

Shalom...from Jerusalem, Israel!  Thank you for listening to my podcast and it is coming to you from the holy city of Jerusalem.  Getting here was, let's say and adventure in both travel (10 hours on the plane) and ethics.  I usually don't have Pirkei Avot (Ethics Teachings of our Ancestors) ringing in my head, but for some reason this tractate from the Mishnah was very present for me as we boarded the plane to get here.

The Blessing of a Falling Sky

There can be no denying the economic crisis our country and our world experiences these days.  The question we need to ask ourselves as religious communities is, "What is our roll?  What can we do?"  While many of our congregants feel the pressures of the economy, we need to remind ourselves of the power of faith and community.  How?  Please listen.

Rabbi Andrew Baker - Part II

Here is the continuation of Rabbi Baker's talk.

Rabbi Andrew Baker Part I - Guest Speaker

We were joined on the pulpit of Beth David this past week by Rabbi Andrew Baker of the American Jewish Committee.  Rabbi Baker is a leading expert on anti-Semitism and spoke of the challenges and difficulties that have emerged out of the newly configured Europe we have today.

Can I Interest You in (different) Hanukkahs

Can I interest you in Hanukkah?  This question was posed by John Stewart on the Colbert Christmas special.  Can I interest you in learning about the different Hanukkahs in Jewish History as we struggled to come to terms with both miracle and practical?  Is Hanukkah the sword...oil...dreidel...sacrifice?  Can we be interested in the celebration and meaning of Hanukkah?

Kiddush Hashem - When terrorism is close to home

In memory of Jurgen and Daphne Schmidt.

Toldot 5769 - Thanksgiving, Football, and Divine Destiny

Thanksgiving, football and Divine Destiny might not be what you would expect in a religious conversation, however they are very much tied together.  When the angel Columbia appears to push our 'sacred civilization' from sea to shinning sea, we should wonder about the mixing of religious and national messages. In addition, I personally implore you to keep in your prayers and kaddish lists those who were murdered in cold blood at the Mumbai Jewish center.

Va'Yerah 5769 - Outreach, Inreach, Soul Reach

This past week was an experiment in how communities see themselves and others.  In an attempt to reach out to families where there are mixed faith backgrounds, Interfaithways contacted and requested that area synagogues make some part of their Shabbat weekends about interfaith families.  The question of outreach is one that is often troubling because unless it is done from the soul, it often struggles with the issue of authenticity. Where do we find authentic reaching of the soul to others?  We need only look to our Torah portion and to the work of Rabbi Alexander Schindler in the Judaism of the 20th century.

Lech Lekha 5769 - Walking History

What does it mean to touch history?  This week we got a sense of this both in our historic election.