Thoughts from a Rabbi

Repoint your link to this site, please

2006-06-08T17:10:00.000-04:00

Greetings and thanks for reading this blog. Please repoint your links to http://1rabbi.wordpress.com

Thanks and see you on the new blog site!

Shavuah Tov

2006-06-03T20:49:00.000-04:00

Shavuah Tov - a good week to you and yours.

May this second week of the month of Sivan be filled with hope, learning, Judaism, health and love.

Home again

2006-05-24T17:09:00.000-04:00

I'm home again, back in the US, that is. Israel too continues to feel like home (and if my sentiments on the latest trip have longevity, aliyah may be in my future so then Israel will really be home).

We had a wonderful time. The trip went well, no major glitches, we saw, did, toured, hiked and grew a connection for the participants with the land of Israel. We did a fantastic social justice project, made great friends and breathed in the air, atmosphere and joy of Israel.

Back to regular life.

Ani Ba'aretz! - I'm in Israel!

2006-05-10T13:56:00.000-04:00

Hooray - I'm in Israel!!!! I arrived on Tuesday and am here for just over a week. What a wonderful time to be here. It is so great to do some of my work here and to hear the music, language, people and heartbeat of Israel. Wow.

I love this place!

More later, when there is another internet connection!

Shalom m'ha-aretz (shalom from Israel)!

Israeli Ingenuity - A Credit Card USB Drive!

2006-04-19T21:22:00.000-04:00

Do you carry a USB key (when it isn't Shabbat or a khag)? Have you ever mislaid it? Well, an Israeli inventor by the name of Alon Atsmon, CEO of Walletex, has come up with a solution - a USB storage device in the shape of a credit card. Since people tend to take care of credit cards, he figured that it might be a better storage solution.

Israel 21c reports:
"I think the card shape is the future," Walletex CEO Alon Atsmon told ISRAEL21c. "If it is much smaller it gets lost. The most convenient place is in your wallet."

Atsmon, a graduate of the Israel Defense Forces' prestigious Talpiot technology program and then the Israeli Air Force, is very familiar with card technology. In 1998 he set up a company called ComSense to develop a battery-powered card for authentication purposes. ComSense was later sold to Israel company Beepcard, but the credit-card shape stuck in Atsmon's mind, and in 2004 he established Walletex to revolutionize the USB drive market.

"The challenge was to make everything thin," he explains from the company's offices in Rishon Lezion. "This is the thinnest USB drive in the world."

Great idea, isn't it. Find out more on Israel 21c. Celebrate Israeli ingenuity and check it out.

Nazi Records of Hate Just Released - Over 60 Years after the End of the War

2006-04-19T21:03:00.000-04:00

While surfing the web, I found and article about something interesting. For years, Germany has known what happened to some 17.5 million people during World War II and the Nazi genocide. They have known all along what happened to millions of lives, but have refused to release the information. No matter who asked, the Red Cross, governments and others, including the families. Now, people can begin to know.

Here are some quotes from the Guardian's article "Nazi death camp records reveal fate of millions":

After the war 11 nations formed a commissions to look after the records, but as the decades passed the tracing service metamorphosed into an archive, processing individual requests for information about relatives and digitalising millions of papers.

Researchers have long called for the archive to be opened to build up a detailed picture of where people went: into exile, hiding or concentration camps. But Germany always argued against making them available, saying that doing so would breach its strict privacy laws.
....
The Washington Post has accused Germany and the Red Cross of conspiring to keep historians out of the archive. It said: "The backlog of victims waiting for information about their lives is now in the hundreds of thousands, evidence that the archivists hold back documents is overwhelming, survivors' groups in Germany and elsewhere are protesting and historians are demanding better access."

What will happen now?

According to the article, "The records will now be copied and distributed within the 11 commission countries, including Britain, where their sensitive content will be dealt with according to local laws, said Miss Zypries's spokesman yesterday."

I pray that families may now have some peace.

Wishing you and yours a wonderful end of Pesach.

On Today's Attack

2006-04-17T23:49:00.000-04:00

Here are some links on today's hateful bombing:

Allison Kaplan Sommer's post

Ha'aretz summary article

Lisa's powerful eye-witness post, including pictures

May the Holy One send healing to the wounded and comfort to those whose lives have been forever changed.

Passover Tragedy Again

2006-04-17T23:37:00.000-04:00

Flashes of the nightmere of a few years ago....bombings on Pesach....hateful responses to freedom...death in a time of life and renewal....

Hamas Starting to Consider Talking with Israel?

2006-03-27T19:02:00.000-05:00

Google News is carrying various reports that Hamas is considering beginning to tall with/about Israel. For example - Ha'aretz "Haniyeh: Hamas won't cave in to external economic pressures" and the Globe and Mail. I'll believe it when I see it.

Israeli Elections

2006-03-27T18:57:00.000-05:00

In just a few hours, Israeli's will go to the polls and direct the country's path over the next few years. I hope that turnout is high, people consider all potential consquences of their vote and choose wisely.

May Israel's choices cause her to go from strength to strength.

Bird Flu Scare in Israel & Gaza

2006-03-17T17:38:00.000-05:00

It might be in Israel - it being the bird flu.

Here are some links:
Haaretz on the status of 3 people suspected of having bird flu (they might not have it)

JPost on Israel working with the Palestinian Authority to combat the potential bird flu.

Blogger Allison Kaplan Sommer on the bird flu scare

As we enter shabbat here in the states, may the Holy One bring healing to Israel and the world.
Shabbat shalom

Tzedek (Justice) in Action

2006-03-14T14:44:00.000-05:00

Check out a woman engaging in tzedek, helping to clean-up and rebuild part of devestated Mississippi - Deb's Katrina in Mississippi Log.

May she go from strength to strength.

Another well-written Israeli Blog

2006-02-22T20:34:00.000-05:00

Take a look at this enjoyable, well written Israeli blog - Frothing at the mouth about politics, idea and culture.

Enjoy!

UPDATE: Allison wrote about another powerful blog (with a terrifying parenting story), Stefanella's Drive-Thru.

Video Blog from Israeli Foreign Ministry

2006-02-16T09:42:00.000-05:00

The Israeli government launched a video blog called Israel Videoblog. Any Israeli can submit video to it. As Allison writes (thanks for the tip), it is "designed to show the world the sides of the country that you don't see on CNN.
It's open to everyone -- any Israeli can send in their video and if it makes the grade, it will be put on the site. It's being put together by the consulate in New York, and its target audience is internet-savvy international youth aged 16-30."

Check it out, submit video and let's do our part to raise Israel's image in the world.

Another Link Addition

2006-02-14T18:49:00.000-05:00

>Allison (mazal tov on your new neice) introduced me to Giving Up Sundays, an Israeli blog.

The title itself brought back memories of living in Israel. One of the elements of minor culture-shock when I first arrived was the idea that the weekend was Shabbat only - Friday mid-day through Saturday. Sunday was a regular day. Wow - living the Jewish calendar each week and holidays. Fun - most of the time.

Many who work in the rabbinate are long used to giving up our Sundays for Religious School, teaching, tutoring, programs and events. Maybe instead of grumbling about it, I can think of it as one way to live my life closer to how it is lived in Israel!

Typing farewell to use my time well now and every day.

Additions to the Link Blog

2006-02-14T00:47:00.000-05:00

It's almost 1 am and I am wide awake, so as I watch the Olympics (and fast forward through quite a bit - hooray for Tivo) I'm blog surfing, finding many new interesting blogs. Here are some I'm adding into my links:

Israeli Blogs:
Adventures in Nikkiland
Am Echad
Homey in a Strange Land, Stranger in a Homeland
Horsefeathers
My Home in Israel
Raanana Ramblings
The Dry Bones Blog
Tour Guide Tales

Jewish Blogs:
The Hazzn's Tish
Rachel's Adventures

Enjoy and feel free to suggest more!

Energy - Renewable and Real - Thanks Israel

2006-01-31T21:44:00.000-05:00

So, did you watch/listen to the prez tonight? I didn't, but I heard that he planned to speak about the environment and conserving engergy. Somehow it is hard to imagine a prez whose family fortune is in the oil industry with a vp whose money is in the oil industry (along with rebuilding Iraq at very high bids) wanting to truely conserve.

One of the countries around the world doing something about energy invention and conservation is Israel.

A company called Genova has created a way to use organic waste for energy. Yep, you read it right, olive pits can create electricity and coke (the energy, not the drug)! Tania Hershman writes all about it in Israel 21c

Let's hear it for invention and cleaner fuels!!!

Go Israeli inventors!

An Interesting Visitor in Israel

2006-01-31T01:06:00.000-05:00

In case you haven't already heard, an Iranian blogger named Hossein Derakhshan (aka Hoder) is visiting Israel, experiencing life there.

Read his English and Persian blogs.

Lisa of On the Face is hosting him and is posting about their visit together.

Search him on Google and you will find a number of other posts about him.

Interesting stuff. Enjoy!

UPDATE - SavtaDotty has also posted about his visit.

Waiting for....Tefillin

2006-01-30T23:26:00.000-05:00

I'm waiting for Tefillin. Yep. I took the plunge and bought a new set of tefillin. According to the tracking on USPS.com, they have made it through customs and are on their way to me. What fun it will be to get them and use them for the first time!

New Link - Ruth's Megillah

2006-01-22T17:02:00.000-05:00

Read a blog by a Jew-by-Choice (a.k.a - a convert) - Ruth's Megillah.

Read and enjoy!

A Resource You Hopefully Will Not Need

2006-01-08T09:40:00.000-05:00

An organization exists to help young Jewish women with breast cancer. It is called Sharsheret. Hopefully, you don't need this information, but if you do, check them out as a resource for support, encouragement and more.

Wishing all health!

Sharon Update - Post Surgery

2006-01-05T02:42:00.000-05:00

Sharon's surgery is over and he has seemed to survive. You can find updates on all the different elements of what is going on at Ha'aretz and Jerusalem Post.

The BBC has an article which includes "world" reactions, including some expected statements and reactions.

Speedy healing to Sharon and all who are ill.

Update on Sharon

2006-01-04T19:09:00.000-05:00

According to Allison, the news on Sharon is not good - especially within the Israeli press who are using grave language like "his "chances are slim" and he is "fighting for his life.""

Good luck to him and all who are caring for him.

Refuah Shleimah (Speedy Healing) Sharon

2006-01-04T17:44:00.000-05:00

Oy. Poor PM Ariel Sharon. In case you haven't heard, he had a serious stroke today and is currently in surgery.

He's in my prayers.
Speedy healing to him and all who are ill.

Hungry? Try Some Food Blogs

2006-01-03T19:35:00.000-05:00

Greetings from my spot in the blogosphere.

Today I had a lovely lunch (good food, even better conversation) with a friend and work connection. As usual, I took an item and asked them to modify it. (I know, I am a pain for those who have to prepare such food.) My love of food led me to click on a link on Rabbi Jason Miller's blog for Kosher Bachelor.

Now, this is not to say that I believe that all Jews have to keep kosher. I personally keep eco-kashrut, but being kosher isn't for everyone. While I encourage you to study and try following the dietary laws before outright dismissing it, I don't judge anyone who choses not to eat kosher. So, here are some links....

Here are some more food/kashrut blogs:
Kosher Blog
Kosher Vegan Lasagna
Veg Blog (Not specifically kosher recipes, but all vegan, so can easily be made kosher.)
Atar Chef Blog
Kosher Nexus
Kosher Traveler
Kosher Critic
Sabboth Cooking

Kashrut.com (Not a blog, but good source of kashrut information.)

And some other link updates:
Israel blogs -
Adam (not) In The Army
Michelle's Aliyah Adventures
Homey in a Strange Land, Stranger in a Homeland
Aliyah Blog
UPDATE: Tales of a Tour Guide

Jewish blogs -
Psycho Toddler

Enjoy!!!

Shavuah Tov & Happy New Year

2006-01-01T10:22:00.000-05:00

Shavuah tov. Today we enter a new week and a new (secular) year.

I pray that both bring you health, happiness, love and learning.

Shalom

He'Brew Beeer

2005-12-31T17:16:00.000-05:00

Yes, you read right - He'Brew Beer. It's kosher, been in existence for 8 years and with a number of varieties. You can listen to a humerous and punny story about it on NPR's driveway moments.

Enjoy!

Some Additions to the Links

2005-12-30T09:52:00.000-05:00

Greetings!
I'm adding to my blogroll.

Some additions to the Israel blogroll
At Level Ground
Blogus Erratus
Cousin Lucy's Spoon
Jillax
Judenstadt
Like I've Got Time for Blogspot
Living in Interesting Times
Menachem in Israel
Michelle's Aliyah Blog
On the Contrary
One Jerusalem
Penguin-Loving Trollmama
Rishon Rishon
Shaister
Shalom Israel
Shiloh Mussings
Shirat Hasirena
Slightly Mad
Something Something
Square Peg View
The Muqata
Timna
Willow Tree

Some additions to the Muslim blogroll
Iraq the Model

Some additions to the Jewish blogroll
Unorthodox Paradox

Happy Hanukkah!

A Nod to Religious Leaders from Mitch Albom

2005-12-26T09:33:00.000-05:00

Mitch Albom (of the Detroit Free Press) wrote a beautiful column on religious leaders yesterday. While it is a bit self-serving to share it with you here, I do so. Thanks to Rabbi Jason Miller for the original.

Here is the article:

MITCH ALBOM: On religious day, a nod to leaders
December 25, 2005
BY MITCH ALBOM
FREE PRESS COLUMNIST

Writing a column for Christmas Day, on a Sunday, can be intimidating. After all, you'd think people would have better things to do than read the newspaper.

But if today is a time to ponder religion, then I'd like to give a nod to the earthly people who facilitate that. They are often overworked. They are constantly overlooked. And they have taken some bad publicity lately.

I'm talking about clerics.

I'm talking about priests, rabbis, pastors, ministers, imams, bishops and preachers.

For the overwhelming majority of these, every day is a humbling challenge. They must try to convince followers that life is more than money and pleasure.

They must try, in a world that tells people to stay beautiful, rich, young and powerful, to persuade followers that none of these things matter.

In short, they are faced with an almost impossible task. No wonder when God came to Moses and asked him to lead his people, Moses suggested God choose his brother instead.

I mean, who would want the job?

Following their faith

The answer, it seems, is that the job wants you. Most clerics I speak to feel they were called to the role. Not in some flashy, Cecil B. DeMille way. Not a bolt of lighting or a burning bush. Just a small voice inside them that said, "This is your path."

Of course, small voices don't make headlines. And in recent years, we've seen too many loud and frightening "men of God" acting like anything but.

We've seen Catholic priests do unspeakable things to children. We've seen Muslim clerics calling for mass murder. We've seen Pat Robertson tell the world who should be assassinated. We've seen a rabbi convicted of arranging his wife's death. We've seen TV evangelists showering themselves in money.

Headlines like these make you think religious leaders are little more than power mongers with fancy garments.

But that's wrong.

For the hundreds of thousands of small-town pastors, synagogue rabbis, monastery ministers or mosque clerics, the job involves no TV cameras and no newspaper reporters. In fact, it's the opposite. Most of the time is spent trying to get someone to listen.

A rabbi I know, Albert Lewis, one of the wisest men I've ever met, once told me this story. I'm going to paraphrase it here:

There's a door-to-door salesman. And he had one customer who never wanted to buy anything. "Maybe tomorrow," the salesman would politely say.

But every day he came back, the customer got angrier and angrier. "I don't want anything. Don't come back!" But the salesman always smiled and said, "Maybe tomorrow."

Finally, one day, the customer got so mad, he spit in the face of the salesman.

The salesman wiped the spit from his cheek, looked up in the sky and said, "Hmm. It must be raining."

That, the rabbi said, is what the job is really like.

Living life the right way

I think of some of the clerics I've had a chance to meet or work with. Many have been at weddings and funerals. But some have been at shelters, dishing out food. Some have swung hammers, building homes for the less fortunate. Some have counseled young soldiers off to war.

If I had to pick one trait that was present in all of these men and women, it would be calmness. A certain serenity that they were doing something that mattered. That can't be easy when people so often, metaphysically, spit in your face, ignore God, ignore ritual.

So on this nontraditional column day, I'd like to thank the group that serves between God and man. Perhaps for a few hours today, they can feel what the world might be like if we paid more attention to the good lessons they try to share.

Contact MITCH ALBOM at 313-223-4581 or malbom@freepress.com. "The Mitch Albom Show" is 3-6 p.m. weekdays on WJR-AM (760).

Share your inspiration!

Torah Commentary - Parashat Vayeitzei

2005-12-06T19:03:00.000-05:00

Parashat Vayeitzei, this week's Torah portion, includes Jacob's famous dream of angels going up and down ladders. During the dream he speaks with G-d and upon awakening says, "Surely G-d was in this place and I, I did not know."

Have you ever wondered about Judaism and angels? If so, take a look at the short commentary on this week's portion "Angels Around Us".

Wishing you a week of health, learning, and joy.
May you ever be surrounded by the angels.

New link - AdLoyada

2005-12-06T19:00:00.000-05:00

I've added a new link to the Jewish Blogs list - AdLoYada (thanks Lisa for the link!)

Mazal tov Unorthodox Paradox

2005-11-27T10:58:00.000-05:00

Mazal tov to the Unorthodox Paradox on his recent engagement! May your lives together be wonderful, long and filled with love and learning!!!

A Few New (to me) Israeli Blogs

2005-11-27T10:49:00.000-05:00

Thanks Allison for links to some "new" Israeli blogs -

JeruGeru

Knifedge Kvetch

Which Surprised Her

Click, read and enjoy!
Shavuah tov.

Rav Kook on Leadership & Holiness

2005-11-23T12:45:00.000-05:00

The great late Chief Rabbi Kook one wrote a short drash on holiness in leadership/government called "In the Holy of Holies." In it he writes of the obligation of leaders to work with everyone - whatever their personal observance - honoring them all.

Date Set for Israeli Elections

2005-11-23T12:30:00.000-05:00

A date is now set for elections for the next Knesset/Israeli Governmnet - March 28, 2006.

With Sharon's new party and alliances, things will likely get interesting.

Read more about it on Ha'aretz.

A Close Call

2005-11-23T12:27:00.000-05:00

An Israeli civilian had a very close call today when his hanglider went into Lebanese airspace as he descended. He ran for his life, aided by some IDF troops in the area.

Read about his narrow escape on Ha'aretz

May you have no similar close calls today.
If you are travelling for American Thanksgiving, enjoy, be safe and enjoy your company!

Official Vatican Homophobia

2005-11-22T20:52:00.000-05:00

NPR reported today that Gay men will not be accepted to study for the priesthood nor become priests. More legislation of bigotry.

Two of the liberal streams of Judaism, Reform and Reconstructionist, ordain out-of-the-closet rabbis who are gay and lesbian. The conservative movement is struggling over this issue - has been for years.

Too many people get hurt by hatred and close-mindedness.

May all find courage and hope even in the face of discrimination.

Israel is helping the world breathe easier

2005-11-22T20:05:00.000-05:00

A great deal of technology has and is being invented in Israel (think fast chips, instant messaging, cellular phones....). Now scientist have invented a machine that allows them to help pulmonary patients breathe easier.

Nicky Blackburn at Israel 21c reports about the findings of Dr. Igal Kushnir, the founder and CEO of Deep Breeze Medical Diagnosis.

Blackburn quotes Kushnir as saying,
..."We have a completely novel technology with enormous potential, not just for the pulmonology market but also for cardiology. This is exciting and new. There has been nothing this big since ultrasound."

Read all about it!

Many things happening in the world

2005-11-21T21:49:00.000-05:00

So many things are going on in the world - in Israel, in the US and elsewhere. Life has been so crazy - filled with work, reading, learning, teaching that I have had no time to post.

Khag Sukkot Sameakh

2005-10-16T20:05:00.000-04:00

Greetings this Jewish holiday season. I love Tishrei (the current Jewish month) and its never-ending series of holidays.

Today I began building my very first personal sukkah. I lived in apartments for many years and couldn't have my own Sukkah. Now that I'm in a house, I bought a Sukkah kit. I can't wait to finish it over lunch tomorrow and use it for all of Sukkot.

You can learn about many different aspects of Sukkot from basic to indepth on My Jewish Learning.

Sukkot challenges us to reflect on the meanings of shelter and the fragility of shelter. This year, with the recent devestating earthquakes, mudslides, hurricanes and storms all over the world, the message seems especially poignant. Each of us is responsible to help the homeless, the displaced and all for whom fragile housing is a daily event.

May the Holy One shelter all, whatever our ethnicity, our faith, our status or orientation.

Beautiful Post on Yom Kippur

2005-10-14T14:01:00.000-04:00

Velvateen Rabbi has done it again - a lyrical, beautiful and meaningful post. This time it is on her Yom Kippur retreat at Elat Chayyim and the Isabella Freedman Center. Her thoughts on her exprience flow along with information on Yom Kippur itself. It is a long post, but worth the time.

Yom Kippur

2005-10-12T12:57:00.000-04:00

Wishing all my Jewish readers a meaningful Yom Kippur and a realatively easy fast.

May you and yours be sealed in the Book of Life.

Praticing Teshuvah, Living Repentance

2005-10-11T01:14:00.000-04:00

I spoke with a friend this evening and we talked through some rough moments in our friendship. It was a long and sometimes difficult conversation. In the end, I we improved our friendship and repaired some past hurts. This is part of what teshuvah (turning inward and bettering the ways where we have missed the mark) is all about.

I pray that your process of teshuvah, growth, reflection and repair is going well.

G'mar khatimah tovah,
May you and yours be sealed in the Book of Life.

Interfaith Site

2005-10-08T23:32:00.000-04:00

Shalom and shavuah tov. (Greetings to all as we enter this new week.)

Sister Scorpion emailed me (thanks!) about an inspiring new interfaith internt venture called Children of Abraham. Their site seeks to bring together interfaith youth toward learning, sharing, cultural exchange and growth - great stuff!

I wish them well and I look forward to reading the site.

Shanah Tovah & Ramadan Mubarak

2005-10-06T22:47:00.000-04:00

Tishrei and Ramadan are here. On this third day of the month, as we glimpse only a sliver of the new moon, I pray that our lives are waxing as well. Waxing, growing and filling with hope, health, joy, learning and faith.

May the Eternal Wellspring of life grant those celebrating the New Year blessings, hope, joy, health in this New Year.

May the One of Blessing bring depth and meaning to all living the daily fast/feast cycle of Ramadan.

May all of us and the world soon know peace.

Baruch dayan ha'emet

2005-09-20T07:12:00.000-04:00

This morning as I awoke I was greated with the news that one of the heroes of our time, Simon Wiesenthal, died overnight. Wiesenthal was a survivor of the Holocaust who spent his life in search of truth and through that truth, freedom. His search for Nazis hidding from their past inspired a center named for him, The Simon Wiesenthal Center (SWC).

Rabbi Marvin Hier, Dean and Founder of the Center, said,
"I think he'll be remembered as the conscience of the Holocaust. In a way he became the permanent representative of the victims of the Holocaust, determined to bring the perpetrators of the greatest crime to justice,". (Quotation from Ha'aretz.)

Many have written about his life much better than I can. Some links include:
Simon Wiesenthal Center Obituary
Ha'aretz Obituary
Biography of Wiesenthal's life (by the SWC)
Jerusalem Post Obituary
Comments by general people on Wiesenthal's life and death
Ynet Obituary

[By the way, if you are unfamiliar with the phrase "baruch dayan ha'emet" it means "blessed is the true Judge" and is a phrase which many Jews say when they hear of a death.]

May his family find comfort in this difficult time.
May his soul rest with the Divine Holy One.

Some Thoughts on the Anniversary of 9-11

2005-09-11T22:08:00.000-04:00

It is hard to believe that the tragedies of September 11, 2001 happened four years ago today. In far too many ways, nothing has changed since that horrible day. We aren't any closer as a country (in fact, I think recent events show that we are farther apart than ever) and more parts of the world dislike American than before.

This afternoon I participated in a small, quiet and relfective memorial. We each left the service with a clear marble for a tear and a flower for hope.

I pray that all those touched by 9-11 find some comfort and I pray that the day comes soon when our world will be focused on peace and not hate.

May salaam, shalom, peace spread thorughout the world.

A New (to me) Blog of an Imam

2005-09-11T22:03:00.000-04:00

Through Sister Scorpion, I learned today of Hijabman, the blog of a young man going off to become an Imam. InshaAllah, all will go well for him.

Timely Torah Portion - Justice and Roberts

2005-09-05T18:43:00.000-04:00

This week John Roberts may begin testimony to become the next Cheif Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

As we form or solidify our own opinions and pay attention to the hearings (to begin after proper honoring of the late Cheif Justice Renquist), we can turn to this week's Torah portion for some ideas on what justice means.

Shofteim (Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9) includes the famous and important exhortaition tzedek, tzedek tirdof - justice, justice shall you pursue. The rabbis teach us that no repetition is meaningless. Repetition adds emphasis, depth and urgency. Many have commented on the text throughout the ages, examining this text for connections and applicablilty to their lives.

Rabbi Marc Israel writes about the application of justice, read his fine words in a commentary titled Pursuing Justice for All.

Go and learn.
May our learning bring justice and peace to the world.
Shalom, salaam, peace.

Yalla Journal

2005-09-04T18:26:00.000-04:00

Sister Scorpion kindly emailed me about a co-existance art site called the Yalla Journal. Here is the information about it:

After a successful first issue in 2004, Yalla is back for another year. If you are between 18 and 30, we want your short stories, poems, photographs, stories about personal experiences, visual art, and short essays about the Israeli-Arab conflict.

Yalla isn’t a collection of political pieces. We’re looking for expressions of feelings about the conflict, to help each other understand where the other side is coming from. We look for submissions mainly from Canadian Arabs and Jews, but all are welcome to contribute.

So what is Yalla looking for? You can tell us what the role of the diaspora communities should be in bringing peace. What’s the best way to build trust in the Middle East? What’s your vision of the Middle East in 2030? Have the two sides managed to settle their differences? These are just a few suggestions - the only limit is your imagination.

The selections will be made by a balanced Arab/ Jewish editorial board. We will be in contact with contributors whose pieces are inappropriate or need editing. Longer pieces should run to a maximum of 2,500 words. Send contributions and questions to yallajournal@yahoo.ca by September 30. Please include your contact information and a brief biography, and let us know if you’d like us to publish your e-mail address in the journal.

Share the art, share the peace, share the hope,
Salaam.

Hodesh Elul Tov

2005-09-04T09:19:00.000-04:00

Greetings again.
Hodesh tov. (Happy new month of Elul.)

Today the month of Elul beings, our month of preparation for the High Holy Days. Each day we build and progress towards the days of awe.

This year, the immense tragedies of the world make this time seem especially poignant and meaningful. So many lives have been devestated, so many now homeless. Elul and the holy days are times of reflection on the meaning of our lives and our daily choices. Many of us have been engaging in such reflection as we try to process the horror of Katrina and try to find a way to help. Perhpas this Elul will be a time of help and a time when hope can grow day by day.

Want some information about Rosh Hodesh and Elul?

My Jewish Learning on Rosh Hodesh Elul
Ritual Well on Elul

Go, study and help the hurricane victims!

Baruch Dayan HaEmet

2005-09-04T09:07:00.000-04:00

Good morning.

I just heard the news of Renquist's death. May his family find comfort in the presence of each other and in the prayers and support of many across this county.

A second member of the court for Bush to appoint. Oy.

Just a few thoughts on a quiet Sunday morning.

Sleepless in Sudan

2005-08-31T21:45:00.000-04:00

Sleepless in Sudan is a powerful and worthwhile blog on the crisis in Sudan. [Thanks to Velveteen Rabbi for the tip.]

The Radiance of Torah

2005-08-31T21:13:00.000-04:00

Shalom.

One of the things which I love about my work is the chance to literally and metaphorically bring people close to Torah. I love teaching and empowering men and women of all ages to chant from Torah, brining to life the words, grammer, nuances, feelings and radiance from the text. As we breathe the texts into our lungs and out through our vocal cords the text comes live. A challenge, a blessing and a guide for our lives.

The ability to express the text is connected to the art of clearly and beautifully scribing the words of Torah onto parchment. It is such a loving, intense, beautiful task that it is only done by soferim/soferot who radiate Torah and study the art.

Today while reading Velveteen Rabbi's blog day post I learned of a female soferet named Aviel Barclay-Rothschild. She blogs about her work, describing it as follows:

As the only living certified Soferet (female Jewish ritual scribe) & the first woman to practice sofrut (creation of sacred Hebrew texts) in over 200 years, I feel an obligation to blog about my experiences of The Work.

You can learn more about her in her blog and her website, Soferet.

May words of Torah, words of world wisdom, and words of your faith dance on your tongue and radiate through your body with every breath.

Salaam, my friends.

BlogDay 2005 Links

2005-08-31T00:24:00.000-04:00

Happy Blogday 2005! What is BlogDay you ask? Go to the main Blogday site and read all about it.

Here are my 5 posts:

1. Travel Commons, a blog about business travel. All podcasts recorded in a hotel bathroom. (Not while being used!)
2. Inside Mac Radio, great info about Macs. (I am a Mac user by preference, a PC user at work by necessity.)
3. Waiter Rant, a funny and well written blog about the life of a waiter in New York City. Read it, you'll enjoy and keep wanting to come back for more!
4. Child Abuse Survivor, an inspiring blog on Mike's journey of recovery from child abuse.
5. Ms. Musings, writings, information and more from a feminist point of view.

Link, comment and be well!

Disengagement - Words of a Colleague

2005-08-18T00:07:00.000-04:00

My colleague, Rabbi Ron Kronish, said the following on the BBC:

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY-FOR BBC RADIO 4
AUG. 17.05
RABBI DR. RON KRONISH
Good morning.
Today is a difficult day in the history of Israel. We are sacrificing some
land-some parts of the land of Israel, which is holy to the Jewish
People-for the sake of peace, or at least a movement in the direction of
peace.

Is this worth the price? My answer is YES.

But the problem is more complex than this. We --the citizens of Israel, the
Jewish majority and the non-Jewish Arab minority-have voted for
disengagement. This is the policy of the democratically elected government
of Israel. Yet, we do this with much anxiety and many questions: will the
Palestinians see this as an act of peace or as an act of surrender, i.e. an
act of war? Will Gaza turn into a "terror state", as some of our politicians
on the right suggest? Will this lead to peace agreements -between the two
peoples-rather than unilateral measures?? Or will this lead to more terror
and more violence on the part of the Palestinians as a way to achieve
political ends???

As a religious Jew, I am committed to the importance of living in the land
of Israel. This is why I chose to "go up" (to make aliyah) to live in this
land, with my family, over 26 years ago.

This land has been special-holy-for our people since the beginning of our
history. It is a sacred land. And the state of Israel is the "beginning of
the flowering of our redemption", i.e. it is a vital political framework for
the achievement of our national aspirations as a Jewish people.

But land is not more important than life. Nor is land more important than
peace. Rather, peace -and the attempts to reach peace with all of our
neighbors-is our most important value.

In our Midrash, our literature of tales and traditions, we find this
statement about the importance of peace:

"If there is no peace, there is nothing at all, for Scripture
goes on to say in the Psalms, 'And I will give Peace in the Land which
indicates that peace equals all else. Indeed, we say (in the morning
prayers), 'When He made peace, He created everything."

The search for peace is not simple. It will not end with this disengagement
from Gaza and a few settlements in Northern Samaria. But this is a good
beginning, an important step along the bumpy road to peace.

L'shalom,
Ron Kronish
Jerusalem

May the Divine Precious One lead us all to peace, shalom, salaam.

Feed the Starving Before and After Shabbat

2005-08-12T10:42:00.000-04:00

Estimates suggest that some 36 million people are in danger of starving in Niger and other wide sections of Africa. Below are some ways to do something about it and help out, even if only a little bit.

What a way to frame shabbat, helping the hungry at home and abroad.

American Jewish World Service (www.ajws.org)

In response to a food crisis in Niger, AJWS, with whom we work very
closely, is working to identify local grassroots organizations that can
help feed people facing starvation, and to ensure that those most
vulnerable to life-threatening conditions will have access to medical
care.

Save the Children (www.savethechildren.org)

With more than 40 tons of essential supplies now on the ground, Save the
Children is working to provide nutritional assistance to children under
5 who are facing severe food shortages following the lethal combination
of poor rainfall in 2005 and a locust infestation in the sub-Saharan
African country. Current activities are focused on assisting children in
the Maradi region of Niger, which is facing acute food shortages.
Critical supplies that Save the Children is providing include tents and
other essentials to set up therapeutic feeding centers for starving
children as well as emergency health kits, supplementary feeding kits,
20 tons of ready-to-eat food such as biscuits or porridge and 16 tons of
a new product called plumpy'nut
, a
read-to-eat food that tastes like peanut butter but is fortified with
all the nutrients a moderately malnourished child needs to avoid severe
malnutrition.

Catholic Relief Service (www.catholicrelief.org)

In collaboration with the World Food Programme, CRS is distributing
emergency food and seeds, and running food-for-work programs. CRS is
focusing its initial efforts in Niger on 150,000 critically food
insecure people, though the organization has planned a longer term
response that targets 320,000 extremely vulnerable individuals in
drought- and locust-affected regions. With its local partner, Caritas
Niger, CRS began responding to signs of a food shortage in late 2004
with seed fairs , which
have proven enormously valuable. Farmers who planted seeds from these
programs have been less affected by the crisis than others now
confronting starvation.

Weekly Torah Portion - Mattot

2005-07-28T08:07:00.000-04:00

This week's Torah portion is Mattot, the penultimate portion in Numbers. Mattot includes instructions on and lists of vows. The vows we utter, the words we say all have power. How does Judaism encurage us to think about our words? Here are links to commentaries which address this question as it resonates from our parashah (portion).

My Word by Rabbi Andrea Lerner of the University of Wisconsin Hillel Foundation.

Rabbi Rebecca Gutterman examines vows Broken & Made.

Rav Kook writes about vows and their impact on our emotions and intellect in his drash Mattot, Keeping Vows.

Go and Study!
Wishing all shalom, salaam, peace.

More Pain and Anguish

2005-07-13T08:28:00.000-04:00

More pain and anguish reside in lives today. There has been a devastating train accident in Pakistan and a suicide bombing in Iraq killing over 24 children.

When is the world going to learn that war perpetrates war and hate perpetrates hate?

Wishing all shalom, salaam and peace.

Inspiring Story

2005-07-13T08:16:00.000-04:00

Dr. Barry Melnik, an Israeli doctor on vacation in London, heard one of the explosions in the underground last Thursday and rushed to the scene to help. Read his inspiring and courageous story on Israel 21c.

May each of us find ways to step forward and act heroically in difficult times.

Shalom, salaam, peace.

Oh No, Not Again

2005-07-12T18:02:00.000-04:00

More terror in Israel. A suicide bomber detonated outside a mall in Netanya today. 3 [Update on 7/13/05 - the number is now sadly 4] people are already known to be dead and about 24 90 injured.

More hate and death. I just don't understand it.

Here are some links to news stories:
Ha'aretz (English)
CNN
New York Times

May G-d be with all.

Example of Diversity in Competition

2005-07-12T17:51:00.000-04:00

Today there was a nice example of diversity during the Maccabiah Games (a world-wide olympic-style competition) in Israel.

The 17th Maccabiah Games opened this week with a sterling example of Israel's democratic values. An Israeli Arab teenage girl from the town of Sakhnin became the first gold medalist in this year's Games with a victory on Sunday in the women's 200-meter breastroke.

Asalla Shahada, 17, won the race in 2:46.93 after a close battle with Lauren Fox (USA), who trailed behind by 21 hundreths of a second.

"The Maccabiah belongs not only to all the Jews, but also to all the Israelis, and I am a proud Israeli," Shahada told YnetNews.

Read the full story on Israel21c

A Thought or Two on Wild Weather

2005-07-11T15:15:00.000-04:00

Wild weather - tropical storms, hurricanes, tornados, fire-storms, blizzards, floods are sadly all too common around the world. We here in the USA were focused on Hurricane (now tropical storm) Dennis for the past few days (and those who are and will get flooding rains from the storm will continue to be focused on it).

Such weather can prompt questions of "why does G-d do this to us" or "why to those on the gulf coast again, so soon after Ivan" or "why do we have such violent weather?" Clearly there is no definitive answer. Many things seem to factor in - how we treat the planet (weather cycles have a GREAT deal to do with what we put into the atmosphere, ground water and etc [remember the rain cycle from elementary school?]), the long-term time schedule of our planet (human time, earth time and Divine time are clearly not the same), and G-d G-dself.

We find many stories in biblical and rabbinic literature related to weather - the flood at the time of Noah, the prayers for rain by Akiva during drought (which are directly connected to the format of some High Holy Day prayers) and other stories. In both the story of Noah and Akiva (let me know if you want more details of either), humans interact with the planet and with G-d and there are consequences. Just as G-d long ago promised not to flood the entire earth all at once, we humans have our own end of the promise - to not be absorbed in blood, warfare and base human instincts and to take care of the earth.

Can we control the weather, of course not. Do our actions contribute? I belive that both science and Judaism say yes.

May all of those affected by violent weather find strength, courage and hope in a difficult time.
May each of us learn to take responsibility for the world's physical (and spiritual) health.

Another New Link

2005-07-08T13:50:00.000-04:00

Through site-meter, I found Contemplative Activist, an interesting looking blog. Read and enjoy.

Shalom, salaam, peace,

Weekly Torah Portion - Khukat 5765

2005-07-08T08:59:00.000-04:00

One of the topics of this week's parashah is the famous story of Moses striking, rather than speaking to the rock. Becuase of this and Moses' murder of the Egyptian task master, he does not gain entry to the Holy Land. This situation provokes many questions. Rabbi David Teutsch shares one response in his drash published by the UJC project Mekor Chaim.

Go and Learn!

Helping those with Addictions

2005-07-08T08:52:00.000-04:00

One of the difficult realities of the Jewish community is that some Jews (like all others) struggle with addictions to alcohol, drugs, hate and other things that damage their lives. The Central Conference of American Rabbis has prepared materials to help rabbis understand the realities and difficulties of addiction. Download and read the document Resources for Rabbis Dealing with Addiction and Recovery Issues.

Children & the London Bombings

2005-07-08T08:46:00.000-04:00

What do we say to children of all ages about yesterday's terror, death and destruction of lives? The Jewish Education Center of Cleveland has put together a curriculum for just such a question. It can be used at camp, religious schools, by rabbis or even individually. The curriculum is free and can be accessed at JECC-Response Curriculum - London Bombings. You will also find links to many other curricula in response to world and local events.

More "Muslim Blogs" Links

2005-07-07T21:58:00.000-04:00

Sunday I updated the links under the "Muslim Blogs" category. I found the links through Sister Scorpion. Today she posted more links, some of them which I found interesting at first glance, so I am adding more.

One of the goals of this blog is to share Jewish knowledge and to work for better communication and understanding between various faiths. We are well aware of the difficulties between some of the faith groups of the world - including the political difficulties between Jewish Israelis (yes, there are Christian, Muslim, Ba'hai and other Israelis) and Muslim Israelis. Perhpas seeing different faith bloggers link to each other will help contribute to understanding and dialogue in the world. I pray so.

Here are the links:
Neurotic Iraqi Wife
Nzinga's Soapbox (Amer. Ex-Pat Woman Living in Saudi Arabia)
Progressive Muslim Thoughts
The Muscatis, a husband and wife blogging team in Oman.

Let me know what you think and suggestions for other blogs to link.

Muslim Bloggers on London Bombings

2005-07-07T17:41:00.000-04:00

What are Muslim bloggers saying about today's terror attack? Islamicate shares her thoughts and collects what others on the web are saying.

En'sha'allah, b'ezrat hashem (God willing), hate will soon cease.

Prayers on this difficult day

2005-07-07T17:22:00.000-04:00

Another day of terror, pain, war and bloodshed. Sad. So sad.

My heart, thoughts and prayers are with all effected.

What is Israel?

2005-07-05T21:50:00.000-04:00

Want to hear a thorough yet brief description of what and who Israel is today? Liron hs a brief yet thorough and clear description of Israel, especially for those who get most of their information on Israel from American mainstream media like CNN, FoxNews, MSNBC and the like. Listen to her June 25, 2005 podcast. Her description of Israel is in the first few minutes, just after she introduces herself.

Want to hear her podcasts? You can subscribe to her in iTunes or go directly to her podcasting web page.

Go, listen, learn and comment here.

Jewish/Israeli Podcasts

2005-07-03T22:27:00.000-04:00

I've been listening to podcasts while out on walks and traveling the daily commute. I have listened to some ones with Israeli or Jewish content, and I thought it would be interesting to see how many Jewish or Israeli podcasts I could find. Below are some. If you know of more, please email me or leave a comment. Thanks.

(By the way, I have not listened to all of these, so feel free to leave feedback.)

The links below are to the webpages, not to the iTunes podcast page, although you should be able to find some of them there (if not there yet, email the podcast creators and they apply to be added to the iTunes page).

Jewish Podcasts:
CompuShmooze.
Jewish Identity in Writing
Nextbook, a page with podcasts and articles on Jewish literature and culture.
UnionAvenue, a podcast with short quotations from Jews thorughout time and various professions.

Jewish Webcasting Guide

Israeli Podcasts:
Israelisms (from Jerusalem)
Israellycool
Lironcast
The View from Here (from Modi'in)

Make Poverty History

2005-07-03T10:58:00.000-04:00

Through Father Jake Stops the World, I found Make Poverty History, an effort to end world poverty. Live 8 is of course another effort to end poverty, especially in Africa.

Link Update

2005-07-03T10:43:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Sister Scorpion, I have updated some links. She has posted an update of her own links, and I have borrowed and added. So, take a look at the links on the right, especially in the Muslim blogs section.

Weekly Torah Portion - Korach 5765

2005-06-30T21:30:00.000-04:00

This week's parashah, Korah, tells the story of rebellion against leadership. Korach leads a group to foment rebellion against Moses and Aaron. Their rebellion does not go well, to put it mildly.

What do we learn from this rebellion?
Rabbi Offel reflects on the "Balancing the Individual and the Communal"

Rav Kook writes on the role of Priestly Leadership in ancient and modern days in his drash Korach: Who Needs the Priesthood?

Go and Learn!!

Loss of a Great Scholar of Our Time

2005-06-26T19:49:00.000-04:00

Shavuah tov. I just returned home from a wedding and teaching - a day full of joy, love and the promise of goodness in what is often a challenging world. The chatan and kallah (groom and bride) beamed, soaked up the love and joy surrounding them and had a great time. The party is problably still going on at the house. (This chatan and kallah decided that after the formal reception, they would invite people back to her (now their) home and enjoy their out-of-town and in-town friends and family. A wonderful, beautiful, joyous day.

Then, I come home, turn on the computer and look at the New York Times for the first time all day. It is my custom to look at the obituaries and thus I learned of the death of a great scholar and teacher, Rabbi Dr. Nahum Sarna. He was a great man, a learned scholar and one whose mind, writings and teachings opened up worlds for many. Amongst his accomplishments is the Jewish Publication Society translation of the Tanach. What a loss for the world. The New York Times obituary includes the following:

Dr. Sarna's writings, commentaries and translations sought to bring the meaning of ancient texts closer to today's lay reader. Some of his most important contributions were made through the Jewish Publication Society, based in Philadelphia, for which he was principal translator and editor of "Torah (New Translation)." First published in 1985, it remains in print.

Some of his other books published by the society were "Genesis: The Traditional Hebrew Text with New JPS Translation" (1989); "JPS: The Americanization of Jewish Culture 1888-1988" (1989); "Exodus: The Traditional Hebrew Text With the New JPS Translation" (1991); and "Studies in Biblical Interpretation" (2000).

Dr. Sarna's work reflected a 19th-century movement devoted to the scientific study of Jewish civilization and a more accessible, modern approach to the Hebrew Bible. His commentaries sought to shed light on the narrative, give meaning to archeological finds, add historical and cultural background and present the Bible's teachings in a spiritual and moral context.

Read the entire obituary here.

May his soul be with the Holy One of Blessing.
May G-d comfort his family among all who mourn.

A Tough Day In Israel - But Not Because of Terror

2005-06-21T21:46:00.000-04:00

Today has been another difficult day in Israel. This afternoon a truck errantly crossed a track in the path of the Haifa-Be'er Sheva train. Apparently, the truck driver did not follow any of the posted instructions to stop and ignored the train's whistle. The impact careened cars off the track and according to some reports, crushed the first few cars. As of this posting, seven are dead and over 245 injured.

There are various stories in English and Hebrew available on the web. You can find the Ha'aretz English language story here and a Hebrew language Ha'aretz story here.

Recently officials in Israel have issued more frequent cautions and warnings to Israeli motorists of their dangerous driving habits. For example, there was a nation-wide warning issued following some deadly accidents during Passover.

I send my prayers of comfort to those who have lost loved ones and my prayers of healing to all who have been injured. May the Holy One be with each of them and their families.

Honoring a Pilot from Operation Magic Carpet

2005-06-21T08:24:00.000-04:00

After the modern State of Israel was founded in 1948, Jews across much of the Arab world were persecuted. The Jews of Yemen suffered attacks, discrimination and threats to their lives. An effort was organized, called Operation Magic Carpet to rescue the Jewish community of Yemen and bring them to safety in Israel. Many people participated in this rescue. (Incidentally, there are some wonderful stories and memories from the Yemenite community themselves about Operation Magic Carpet. I'll look for some links and post, otherwise, check your library.) One of significant figures in this endeavor was Robert F. Maguire, Jr., the chief pilot. Mr. Maguire recently died and his part in Operation Magic Carpet is remembered in a New York Times Obituary. Some excerpts from the obituary include:

"Robert F. Maguire Jr., the chief pilot of Operation Magic Carpet, which evacuated more than 40,000 Jewish refugees from Yemen to the newly created state of Israel between late 1948 and early 1950, died on June 10 at his home in Northridge, Calif. He was 94....Requiring a little more than a year and 380 flights, Operation Magic Carpet evacuated 40,000 to 50,000 Yemenite Jews without loss of life. David Ben-Gurion, Israel's first prime minister, was reported to have called Mr. Maguire "the Irish Moses." The writer Leon Uris based a character in his 1958 novel, "Exodus," on him....In Operation Magic Carpet, Mr. Maguire relied as much on his wits as on his aviation skills. He once ran out of fuel and was forced to land in Egypt. When airport officials rushed up to the plane, Mr. Maguire ordered them to send ambulances immediately.
"What for?" they asked him.
"I have smallpox on board," Mr. Maguire replied.
He got his fuel, and flew on to Tel Aviv."

You can also read an obituary of him in The Jerusalem Post.

Want to learn more about Operation Magic Carpet?
Take a look at these links:
Jewish Virtual Library information on & picture of Operation Magic Carpet.
Alaskan Airlines on the golden anniversary of Operation Magic Carpet. This profiles some other people involved in the rescue, you can read their words about Mr. Maguire at the bottom.
WZO background and program ideas for Operation Magic Carpet.
A description of Operation Magic Carpet including history on Jews in Yemen.
Photo exhibit on Operation Magic Carpet.
Words of another American pilot, Hank Mullineaux, on Operation Magic Carpet.
Israeli stamp remembering Operation Magic Carpet.
A filmography on Operation Magic Carpet.

Go and Learn!

Biography of a great scholar - Abraham Joshua Heschel

2005-06-20T20:42:00.000-04:00

My Jewish Learning has a main article this week on one of my favorite scholars, Abraham Joshua Heschel. Read about his life and his views on: sacred time, Judaism as a Way of Life and the Sabbath.

Go and Learn!

Hag Shavuot Sameach

2005-06-12T15:15:00.000-04:00

Hag Shavuot Sameach - Happy Shavuot. May this z'man torateinu, z'man simchateinu (time of joyous receiving of the Torah) be filled with joy, learning and laughter for you and yours.

Updates to Links

2005-06-08T22:57:00.000-04:00

I've updated some of the Israel/Palestine Peace Blogs links. I've added:

Bitter Lemons

Cal Tzedek

Dove's Eye View

Israel Palestine Forum

Israeli-Palestinian Peace Group Page

Raising Yousuf: a diary of motherhood under occupation

Semitism.net - Pro-Jewish. Pro-Arab. Pro-Peace.

Let me know if you know of others to add.

Meals for the Hungry & Homeless with Dignity

2005-06-08T21:33:00.000-04:00

Today I learned of an amazing restaurant soup kitchen in Jeruslame called Carmei Ha'ir. All who enter sit, dine and relax. When leaving those who can pay, pay. Payment is made to a box by the door. Some put notes of thanks and others put sheckels. Only those touching the box at that moment know who is paying with thanks and who with cash. Amazing, isn't it?

Located on 72 Agrippas in the neighoborhood of Machaneh Yehudah it was begun by Yehuda Azrad, Itzik Levitan, Momi Ben Zruel, Harel Horowitz and David Germiza. Aish reporter Sara Yocheved Rigler writes that they dreamed of creating a soup kitchen "where everyone who enters would receive honor, not just food." She continues, "Even the name embodies their commitment to preserving the dignity of their indigent patrons. They wanted a name which would not smack of charity. Ze'ev Yekutiel, a restaurant consultant and caterer who volunteered the know-how for establishing the restaurant, came up with "Carmei Ha'Ir." In Hebrew, it means simply, "the vineyards of the city," but the inner circle of supporters knows that the word "Carmei" is also an acronym for a line in the prayer of hospitality: "All the hungry will eat from Him." Read the entire Aish article here.

Other sources on this amazing place include:
A Jerusalem Post article, Love at First Bite.
A Christian Science Monitor article, Chef Cooks Up a Grand Social Experiment
Rabbi Mark Kaiserman quotes the owner in a D'var Torah for Parashat Behar, By Your Side

I learned of Carmit Ha'ir from Jerusalem Gypsy who blogs about a recent meal there.

I hope to eat/donate/volunteer there when I'm in Jerusalem later this summer.

Do you want to help support Carmei Ha'ir? According to Aish, send donations to P.O.B. 6084, Jerusalem 91060, Israel. You can also go to their website (in Hebrew) for more information and donations.

Transcript of IDF Radio Traffic on Jerusalem Day 1967

2005-06-08T00:54:00.000-04:00

Here is a brief (and belated) post on Jerusalem Day. IsraCast has published an English trasnlation of the IDF radio traffic as the Israeli Army reached the Western Wall of the Temple.

Words echoing moments of joy from our past. I pray that they lead us again to moments of a lasting peace.

Great Religion Websites

2005-06-07T18:18:00.000-04:00

Yesterday the Webby Awards were given out in New York. They award sites in a variety of categories, including a religion category. Here are some of the sites which got recognition for religion.

Category winner - Speaking of Faith sponsored by American Public Media

People's voice winner in the category - Spirituality & Health

Nominees (not including those above) were:
Faith Streams (A source of articles and vidoes on various faiths.)
Grace Cathedral, an Episcopal Church.
My Jewish Learning, one of my favorite sites!

See all the Webby Award winners!

By learning about other ways of life, views and faiths, we strengthen ourselves and help bring tikkun olam (repair) to the world.

Interview with Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

2005-05-30T14:20:00.000-04:00

One of the efforts in celebration of Jews in North America for 350 years is a project called Only in America.

Part of this project are four interviews to which you can listen: Elie Wiesel & Abraham Foxman, Michael Steinhardt, Ambassador John L. Loeb, Jr. and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I am listening to the end of the interview with Justice Ginsburg as I write this post. It is a thorough, enjoyable and inspiring interview.

Listen to the interview with Justice Ginsburg here.

Shavuah Tov

2005-05-29T00:15:00.000-04:00

Shavuah tov. May this be a week of remembrance, blessing and success.

Weekly Torah Portion - B'khuqotai

2005-05-24T15:36:00.000-04:00

Yep - it is back - commentary and links to drashot on the weekly Torah portion!!

This week's parashah is B'khuqotai, a rather difficult portion closing the book of Leviticus. One of the more difficult sections is the listing of rebukes which can be interpretated as if you mess up G-d gets back at you. But, not all understand them this way.

This week's haftarah, from the book of Jeremiah, responds to the listing of rebukes through the lens of war and despair in his own day. Rabbi Andrea Lerner comments on Jeremiah's response and how we might answer the age-old question of why bad things happen to us. My Jewish Learning has a copy of a drash she wrote titled Faith In Difficult Times: Jeremiah’s deep faith despite the impending exile predicted in Parashat B’hukotai can teach us to turn to God in the most troubling of times.

Go and study and may you find comfort and encouragement from Jeremiah's words.

Hebrew University and Al-Quds University Issue Joint Statement on Cooperation and Dialogue

2005-05-19T11:20:00.000-04:00

The Presidents of Hebrew University (Prof. Menachem Magidor) and Al-Quds University (Prof. Sari Nusseibeh) [If you don't know, Al-Quds is "The Arab University in Jerusalem".] issued a joint statement about the importance of working together rather than fostering division and separation (like the AUT boycott has).

[Thank you to Allison Kaplan Sommer for the tip.]

President of Hebrew University President of Al-Quds University

Here is an excerpt of their statement
Cognizant of the moral leadership universities should provide, especially in already turbulent political contexts, we, the President of Al-Quds University and the President of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, have agreed to insist on continuing to work together in the pursuit of knowledge, for the benefit of our peoples and the promotion of peace and justice in the Middle East.

Our position is based upon the belief that it is through cooperation based on mutual respect, rather than through boycotts or discrimination, that our common goals can be achieved. Bridging political gulfs rather than widening them further apart between nations and individuals thus becomes an educational duty as well as a functional necessity, requiring exchange and dialogue rather than confrontation and antagonism. Our disaffection with, and condemnation of acts of academic boycotts and discrimination against scholars and institutions, is predicated on the principles of academic freedom, human rights, and equality between nations and among individuals.

We therefore call upon academics here and worldwide to act in support of our mission, as one which might allow for ending our shared tragedy rather than prolonging it.

You can read the whole statement on An Unsealed Room

Israeli & Palestinian Radio!

2005-05-16T10:43:00.000-04:00

While catching up on my blogs this morning after shabbat and a 14-hour workday on Sunday, I read Richard's post on All for Peace Radio, a radio station jointly run and programed by Israelis and Palestinians. Their stated purpose includes:

joint radio station broadcasting in Hebrew, Arabic and English, which aimed at a wide audience amongst both people and provides messages of peace, cooperation, mutual understanding, coexistence and hope.

The goals of the project include:

1. exposure of the various aspects of each side to the other side
2. exposure of interviewees, artists and topics of each side to the other side
3. emphasis on the different and the similar
4. breaking of stereotypes existing on both sides
5. discussion of common interests such as health, environment, culture, transportation, economy, etc.
6. exposure and reporting on joint initiatives and projects and on alternative ideas for the conclusion of the conflict
7. providing hope to the listeners
8. preparing listeners towards “the morning after” the conflict

I'm listening as I write this blog - go listen!

Yom HaAtzmeut in Israeli Papers

2005-05-12T13:02:00.000-04:00

Ha'aretz has a list of 10 Who Made Israel What it Is (The list is followed by comments/discussion.)

Ha'aretz special section Independence Day in Focus

Jerusalem Post web discussion of the question What's Israeli?

YNet Opinion pieces
Israel & America - Two-Way Independence by Yoram Ettinger
The Article I Never Wrote by Yair Lapid

JTA
As Israel mourns and celebrates, a new immigrant looks at the swings by Jonathan Udren

Links for Yom HaAtzmeut (Israeli Independence Day)

2005-05-12T11:20:00.000-04:00

Some bloggers on Yom HaAtzmeut
Blurry Mind (Not directly about Yom HaAtzmeut, but on what her family is going through with her brother's recent death during his IDF service.)
Divrei Moshe
Dutchblog Israel has three posts on this Independence day
I Dream, Therefore I Am
Israel21c [A site with much about technology and life in Israel.]
Israelity: Life Beyond the Conflict
Jerusalem Wanderings
Normblog
The View From Here
This Normal Life & Brian's Family Tiyul
Sha's post and top 57 things about Israel

Background & Information
Hatikva - Israel's National Anthem (Information, English text, Hebrew text, many music renditions...)
Israel's Proclamation of Independence (English)
About Israel's Proclamation of Independence
Palestine Post May 16, 1948 Commemorative Issue
Israel's Flag
My Jewish Learning Israel Index to anything you want to know about Israel

An Issue or Two
AUT (UK Professor's Union) Boycott and Consequences

Games
Israel Geography Game (Flash)

UPDATE
Another blog post: In Context

Happy 57th Birthday Israel!

2005-05-12T08:25:00.000-04:00

Today is Yom HaAtzmeut, Israel's Independence Day! 57 years ago on the Jewish calendar, the British left their mandate-controlled Palestine and Israel embraced its independence.

Israel is a complex, beautiful, amazing, little country. Young as a modern political entity, but ancient - people have lived there for over 4000 years.

Celebrate!

One more post on Yom HaZikaron

2005-05-11T21:38:00.000-04:00

Gilly of If I Forget Thee... has two posts on Yom HaZikaron which are worth your time:

Yom HaZikaron
Ein Li Eretz Acheret (There is no other country for me)

More on Yom HaZikaron

2005-05-11T21:26:00.000-04:00

You can see some pictures of the day at this Jerusalem Post article.

All forms of entertainment - theater, movies, tv shows... are closed on Israel's Memorial Day. A serious day - one which goes far beyond the bbqs and gatherings in the USA. We in the US could learn about memory from the Israelis.

Some thoughts on Yom HaZikaron

2005-05-11T16:00:00.000-04:00

Today was Yom HaZikaron in Israel.

[Want information about today? Get basic information at My Jewish Learning or Jewish Virtual Library.]

I am reminded of the Yom HaZikaron when I lived in Israel. As is still the custom, the sirens blew twice - once at the beginning of the commemoration and once at 11 am (just at the start of the national memorial ceremony at Har Hazikaron {Israel's national cemetery}). The moment the siren begins its plaintive wail, all action ceases. Meetings, phone calls, cars, buses - everything. People get out of cars and buses, standing in the street, honoring and remembering those who have died. The sirens wail is accompanied by silence and tears cover the land, permeating thought, deed and emotion. About 7 million people live in Israel and about 22,000 have died in Israel's wars. Nearly everyone knows someone who has died - parent, child, sibling, extended family member, friend....

I attended the national ceremony around 11 am the morning of Yom HaZikaron. A large crowd was gathered at the cemetery, and there too the silence permeated by the siren was all encompassing. After the siren, the ceremonial speeches began along with prayers and wreath-laying. When the official activities ended, families fanned out throughout the cemetery, visiting their loved one's graves, crying, talking, placing stones and some lying on top of the graves. The way the cemetery is set up, one can tell which are the most recent graves. Walking by them was heartbreaking. Grief poured forth and strangers comforted one another. All in Israel, all of the Jewish people are family.

To my Israeli family, my thoughts are with you today. Your sacrifices have not been in vain and are not taken for granted by this (currently) diaspora Jew.

Baltimore Jewish Times story on Judaism & Domestic Violence

2005-05-06T10:17:00.000-04:00

Today the Baltimore Jewish Times published the following inspiring story of individual and communal courage in fighting the scourage of domestic violence. Yes, this problem does happen in the Jewish community. It happens to women regardless of their affilation (very religious to secular to unafilliated), their education and their socio-economic status. Yes abuse happens in the Jewish community.

CHANA, an organization working in support of women abused by their husbands, marked their 10th anniversary with a keynote address by Dr. Amy Robbins Ellison. You can read about her story and the anniversary at the Baltimore Jewish Times site.

Let's hope and pray that Rabbi Weinreb's words which close the article will soon be true - that soon their will be no more abuse and no more need for organizations like CHANA.

New Resource for Peace in Israel/Palestine

2005-05-05T21:46:00.000-04:00

There is a new web resource for Israel/Palestine by Richard Silverstein of www.richardsilverstein.com weblog . You can go to http://israelpalestineforum.com/ and see their forums, blog links, links and the like.

Best wishes on the endeavor and I look forward to following its progress.

Poignant and Powerful Story

2005-05-02T17:30:00.000-04:00

Waiter shares a story about death, life and friendship today that is worth reading. You can find it on his blog Waiter Rant, titled Burying the Dead.

Back!

2005-05-02T17:28:00.000-04:00

Shalom, ya'll. I'm back to blogging and happy to be here again! Look for more posting to come.

May your days of counting the omer be filled with learning, friends and an awareness of the gifts of everyday.

Thoughts from a Rabbi

Repoint your link to this site, please

Shavuah Tov

Home again

Ani Ba'aretz! - I'm in Israel!

Israeli Ingenuity - A Credit Card USB Drive!

Nazi Records of Hate Just Released - Over 60 Years after the End of the War

On Today's Attack

Passover Tragedy Again

Hamas Starting to Consider Talking with Israel?

Israeli Elections

Bird Flu Scare in Israel & Gaza

Tzedek (Justice) in Action

Another well-written Israeli Blog

Video Blog from Israeli Foreign Ministry

Another Link Addition

Additions to the Link Blog

Energy - Renewable and Real - Thanks Israel

An Interesting Visitor in Israel

Waiting for....Tefillin

New Link - Ruth's Megillah

A Resource You Hopefully Will Not Need

More Link Updates

Sharon Update - Post Surgery

Update on Sharon

Refuah Shleimah (Speedy Healing) Sharon

Hungry? Try Some Food Blogs

Shavuah Tov & Happy New Year

He'Brew Beeer

Some Additions to the Links

A Nod to Religious Leaders from Mitch Albom

Torah Commentary - Parashat Vayeitzei

New link - AdLoyada

Mazal tov Unorthodox Paradox

A Few New (to me) Israeli Blogs

Rav Kook on Leadership & Holiness

Date Set for Israeli Elections

A Close Call

Official Vatican Homophobia

Israel is helping the world breathe easier

Many things happening in the world

Khag Sukkot Sameakh

Beautiful Post on Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur

Praticing Teshuvah, Living Repentance

Interfaith Site

Shanah Tovah & Ramadan Mubarak

Baruch dayan ha'emet

Some Thoughts on the Anniversary of 9-11

A New (to me) Blog of an Imam

Timely Torah Portion - Justice and Roberts

Yalla Journal

Hodesh Elul Tov

Baruch Dayan HaEmet

Sleepless in Sudan

The Radiance of Torah

BlogDay 2005 Links

Disengagement - Words of a Colleague

Feed the Starving Before and After Shabbat

Weekly Torah Portion - Mattot

More Pain and Anguish

Inspiring Story

Oh No, Not Again

Example of Diversity in Competition

A Thought or Two on Wild Weather

Another New Link

Weekly Torah Portion - Khukat 5765

Helping those with Addictions

Children & the London Bombings

More "Muslim Blogs" Links

Muslim Bloggers on London Bombings

Prayers on this difficult day

What is Israel?

Jewish/Israeli Podcasts

Make Poverty History

Link Update

Weekly Torah Portion - Korach 5765

Loss of a Great Scholar of Our Time

A Tough Day In Israel - But Not Because of Terror

Honoring a Pilot from Operation Magic Carpet