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There Was a Tiny Hut in My Backyard…and the Neighbors Were Confused
A few weeks ago, immediately after Yom Kippur, I lugged out various packages, boxes, and containers. Several metal and PVC pipes, bamboo poles, a roll out bamboo roof, decorations, tarps, and the list goes on. I was building a sukkah — a temporary dwelling — for the first time in my life. In my backyard….
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It Always Begins & Ends This Way
Shana tova! Happy New Year….in September/October! That’s right, we’re in the thick of it with the High Holy Days. The shofar sounded to usher in the Jewish New Year, pebbles and bread and oats were thrown into flowing streams to cast away our mistakes, apples and honey, apple cakes, festive dinners, and so much more…
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Why Would Anyone Choose to Be Jewish Today?
Good Shabbos! I’ve addressed a lot of the why of choosing Judaism in some ways, mostly the emotional journey. I’ve also answered a quick FAQ about how this could/would impact my work as a UU minister (recap: it won’t). What I’ve not addressed, fully, is the deeper why. Specifically, the theological and teleological why’s. In…
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What’s In a Name?: Picking A Hebrew Name
Shabbat shalom! It’s good to be back after some time away. The question I’ve gotten more than almost any other since I began and finished this journey (and, really, the journey continues) is: What is your Hebrew name and why did you pick it? As always, there’s plenty of guides out there for how to…
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Welcome to the Tribe: Starve Yourself and Mourn
It’s the eve of my first holiday as a fully fledged Jew. I can’t wait! Bring out the decorations, the music, the special food, the joy of community, and… No. Wait. Don’t do any of that. In fact…don’t eat a thing for 25 hours and mourn. It’s Tisha B’Av (literally means: The Ninth of [the…
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A Story of 1.25 Diopters, or, How to Get Judaism into Focus
“Sooooo….it’s time to consider reading glasses or progressive lenses.” The younger-than-me Optometrist said with a smile. I love that more stories in my life involve people that are younger these days. I can see a future curmudgeon blossoming. I’ve been reading, a lot, all my life. It’s one of many tools I used to ensure…
