Hello everyone, As today is erev Rosh haShanah (the day before the Jewish new year), I thought I would share a few thoughts. A study partner of mine a couple of years ago observed that most people call Rosh haShanah, “Judgment day,” and when you think of a judgement day, you think of somber clothes and going to court and fear of what the verdict will be. However, we look at Rosh haShanah as a day of joy and celebration … Continue reading
Shabbat is a funny thing. There is a great book by Abraham Joshua Heschel that does a great job of explaining shabbat. However, it talks about shabbat in an intellectual way, an abstract way. It does not talk about what shabbat feels like, or how I know I am in shabbat. The reason that this is important is because, without knowing, or grokking for those who know the term (it means knowing something in your bones, in your kishkas), what … Continue reading
We have entered the Jewish month of Elul which is the month before the Jewish new year… well one of the 4 Jewish new years. We Jews are a bit funny that way. We celebrate the new year on the 7th month of the year. And then there is the new year for the trees, and the new year that actually is at the beginning of the year, and lastly a new year for the vegetables and animals. Crazy really. … Continue reading
Imagine that you have been told that you have a terminal illness and that you will die in exactly one year. How does this make you feel? Now, imagine one year has gone by. It is the night before the day of your death. All your affairs are in order. You’ve made a will and made amends, and had time to tell the people that you love how you feel. You lie down in your bed and as you drift … Continue reading
I hope everybody has been enjoying their summer. Currently we are in the Jewish month of Tammuz, in the middle of a period called: The 3 weeks. This is a 3 week period from the 17th of Tammuz until the 9th of the month of Av, and it is the worst period of time in the Jewish year wheel. Both days are fast days and the 9th of Av (tisha b’Av) is the day that the 2 temples got destroyed, … Continue reading
Recently I was talking to a Native American. She is part of the Selitz tribe. She reminded me a little bit of a typical American Jew. She told me about a few “superstitions” that she was taught growing up, like a person should not look out a window at night because of evil spirits. However, she said that it was ok to walk outside at night, and she did not understand why looking is a problem, while going out would … Continue reading
When I was growing up, I could not wait for the 4th of July. I loved firing off fireworks. Yes, I was a bit of a pyro in my youth. The fireworks were fun to watch. But it was the lighting I really liked. The main way we celebrate Independence day in the United States is with fireworks. Some might say it is a bbq too. However, plenty of people don’t bbq. They go to a ball game and watch … Continue reading
Being a Cohen or priest in the family tradition of the sons of Yisrael, or what is commonly referred to as Judaism, blessings are a favorite topic of mine. Back when I lived in Jerusalem, orthodox Jews, when they found out I was a Cohen, would ask my to bless them. Also, every day, during the morning prayers, the Cohanim would bless the congregation. And at the Kotel (the western wall), during the week of Pesach (Passover) and Succot, hundreds … Continue reading
Recently I have been in the market for an external hard drive for my computer. Last week I received an email from a local computer store for 66% discount on a 2 terabyte drive. I thought this was great and a few days later, I went to the store to buy it. When I got to the store, I grabbed the last drive they had and went to the cashier with my coupon. The manager came over and said the … Continue reading
A number of years ago, a Jewish co-worker and I wanted to share a part of our tradition with our co-workers. Hanukah was approaching and we wanted to make latkes, or potato pancakes, for everyone at lunch time. For some reason, we went to the human resources people to get their ok. They told us that we could not do it because it is against the law to bring religion into the workplace. At the time we were bummed out … Continue reading