May 20, 2021
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Last week I stood in the scorching sun of the desert. I stood on the improbable grass under my feet which had a sophisticated water system, men and women working the grounds, and a splash of modern miracle. And while it might sound like this was Israel, it was rather Israel in Scottsdale, Arizona. Sports […]
Continue readingMay 13, 2021
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Over the course of this past year, I have spent countless hours leading conversations about Israel using a curriculum called iEngage Israel. The program which was offered in a half dozen Minneapolis synagogues was sponsored by the Minneapolis Jewish Federation. Rather than discuss the history or politics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, we discussed Jewish values […]
Continue readingApril 20, 2021
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To the Minnesota Jewish Community and Beyond: We have counted 330 days since George Floyd was killed by former police officer Derek Chauvin. Today many of us are counting the minutes and hours with enormous heaviness and unease as we anticipate a verdict in the trial that could convict Derek Chauvin of second-degree unintentional murder, […]
Continue readingApril 2, 2021
March 24, 2021
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Prelude We will soon be going through a transition. Some prefer to call it the movement towards a “new” normal. In our volume L’Dor V’Dor in the Digital Age, we call it more simply pre-pandemic, pandemic and post-pandemic. When will the transition occur? That, of course, involves prophetic powers well beyond my paygrade. Nor do I have […]
Continue readingMarch 18, 2021
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I dedicate these words to our neighbor George Floyd (z”l), may his memory be for a revolution. A new Pharaoh rose up over Egypt who knew not Joseph. Now, when we ended the book of Genesis, Joseph and Pharoah had a close relationship — you remember how cozy those two were, saving all the Egyptians […]
Continue readingMarch 15, 2021
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On a call earlier this week with the Minnesota Department of Health, hundreds of faith leaders across our great state were reminded by MDH about COVID precautions: “We are about a mile from home; please do not take off your seatbelts now.” The Minnesota Rabbinical Association is hopeful that with the gradual rollout of vaccines […]
Continue readingDecember 10, 2020
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On the early morning of July 18, a protestor in Portland dubbed “Naked Athena,” wearing only a hat and facemask, approached the police at SW 3rd and Taylor. Though some pepper balls were shot at her feet, 10 minutes after she approached, the police line departed. Over the course of the past six months, there […]
Continue readingNovember 20, 2020
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May such angelic presence fill the empty chairs at our tables and bring us peace.
Continue readingNovember 13, 2020
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We are about to embark on the season of gratitude and the season of miracles.
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