Rabbi Jim‘s Podcast

Rabbi Jim At Camp

Hi, and thank you for listening this week! The Union for Reform Judaism has a wonderful program that started decades ago called Reform Jewish Summer Camp. URJ Camps are places that compliment our youth's growth in understanding themselves, their Jewish identities and these places help our kids to encounter some of the biggest questions of life in a safe place. Where else can a kid go and have not one or two, but six different rabbis, two cantors and three educators teach them; while having all the other activities and fun found at summer camp? I can't describe the enthusiasm, so I'll let you listen to a few songs from song sessions with 500+ campers and share moments of ruach (spirit!) in upcoming shows. Enjoy! URJ Camps Camp Video 

Pinchas 5768-Be Zealous The Right Way

When we see someone act in a zealous way, chances are they think they are doing something divine. What does it mean to be zealous, and what happens when God does (or maybe doesn't) speak to us? Acting on God's command should make any of us nervous, however Moses would often question God's decree and often questioned God. What should demand our zeal? Please listen and consider... God speaks through Bush? It's not funny....

Be a patriot, but don't expect a thank you

How do we honor patriots? Good question given the recent past where veterans have been left to struggle to survive battle wounds, and the bureaucracy of trying to obtain health care. Unfortunately, regardless of how some officials claim to honor the military and patriotism, we have a checkered past which brings us to a Jewish patriot who helped save our country and died with only a questionable "Thank You." Solomon's Business Washington's letter The music you hear on this podcast is available at Magnatune.

Korach 5768

Is it just a bad sense of timing, or does God really have a sense of humor? The 'conservative' leaders of the Anglican Church met in Jerusalem this past week, and boy, were they surprised! To find out how and why please continue to listen. BTW, THANK YOU! we hit 5,000 listens this week! I am truly grateful for your interest in this podcast! Shalom. BBC Podcast (go to time index 19:10) Mother's Day Father's day I Have A Dream...

Shelach Lekha

This is one of the more interesting Torah portions. Why is it that the theology in the Torah portion doesn't work and what is the fear that we all face when striving to make a difference? To quote Caleb, "Let us by all means go up, and shall gain possession of it, for we shall surely overcome it." What are we trying to overcome today? Hagee's Apology

B'ha-alotkha 5768 - Dealing With the Riffraff

There is a great story from the Hasidic Anthology that when the Satan (the one envisioned by Jews) saw that Hasidim were so successful, the Satan became worried. What did he do? He sent some of his own followers to become Hasidim so that this movement of piety would not become so successful as to put the Satan out of business. How do we deal with the riffraff and the naysayers in our midst? What happens when part of that negativity is in ourselves? I hope you listen and discover one way to try and confront the difficult voices all of us must face in life. Music you hear is from Magnatune and is available for download or purchase.

Naso 5768

How do we struggle with belief and proof?  What happens when God is not just a thought, but an angel of God shows up...could one possibly not believe after such an event?  According to the Haftara for Naso, it could happen.  The problem with belief is not confined to modern times, even in ancient days, people doubted God or God's messengers, even when these messengers appeared to them.  This brings us the story from Judges Chapter 13 where an angel appears and announces the birth of the Judge, Samson.  What might we learn from this story?  Listen and think. Music on this podcast is available via CD or download from Magnatune.com and features the music of Suzanne Teng.

Bemidbar 5768

So where do the names of Torah portions and books come from and why don't they translate into the English? This and other questions will get some attention this week as we look at the first Torah portion of the fourth book of the Torah, in Hebrew, Bemidbar. Shavuah Tov! Music you hear is by the group Ya Elah and the artist Suzanne Teng and can be found, ordered and downloaded from Magnatune.com.

B'khu-ko-tie 5768 - Writing A Prayer For Hagee

I love fountain pens! In fact this week I am very jazzed since the haftara (reading from prophets for the week) mentions pens and writing instruments, but you might not want to see what they wrote. Jeremiah speaks of inscribing the sins of Judah on the stone Horns of the Altar, which would have to be done with a metal instrument. This was considered a permanent and sacred declaration in ancient times, unfortunately, we have certain pastors today who don't understand that their words are no less public or permanent. Hagee's recent rants seem to confuse us all, so I'd ask you to join me in my prayers for him and all of us this week. If there was a prayer for the Czar...there has to be one for Hagee. Portrayal of Altar in Jerusalem by Francesco Hayez Hagee's Speech McCain's criticism of Hagee Hagee's retraction of McCain endorsement Yoffie's letter to Hagee

Behar - What Do We Learn From a Loaf of Bread?

What do we learn from a loaf of bread? This weeks Torah portion gives us some unusual mitzvot to observe in the Land of Israel, but are they so strange? We are to treat the land as if it had feelings and could be harmed. Perhaps the Torah and rabbis were not so far off in a physical sense (land conservation and global warming). What about the metaphorical understanding of this passage? What do we learn when we extend concern to inanimate objects? Listen and find out. The First Bat Mitzvah The Sabbath - AJ Heschel The music you hear on this podcast is by Suzanne Teng and available for download or by CD from Magnatune.