Congregational Singing It’s the “it phrase” for Hazzanim looking to get a good job out of school and the trend that veteran Cantors have needed to embrace in order to stay relevant. It’s the title of a book by Joey Weisenberg, the musical director of Kehilat Hadar, a vibrant spiritual community in Manhattan. It’s also …
By Robin Jacobson. “I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues.” –The Lorax by Dr. Seuss According to tradition, Rosh Hashanah is the birthday celebration of Creation. In one rabbinic tale, God takes Adam on a tour of the Garden of Eden, proudly pointing out its natural splendors and admonishing, “Do not …
Throughout the Torah, the Israelites are reminded “you know the feelings of a stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Ex 23:9) Thirty-six times in the Torah and throughout our rituals, we are reminded of our ancestors’ hardships in Egypt. These reminders are prompts for us to extend kindness and welcome others …
One of my favorite places in all of Washington, D.C. is the Library of Congress. My first visit was in 1981 and it has been a recurring joy and fascination for me ever since. While on sabbatical a number of years ago, I chose to immerse myself within the riches of the Library’s Hebraic Section. …
And now for something completely different…. A reflection on the High Holidays and a new RH 2nd night Mindfulness Service. The High Holidays. The pinnacle of our yearly davening experience. It is the moment when thousands of us gather to offer our prayers to God with a communal magnitude that only happens 2 or 3 …
I am writing this blog from Syracuse, NY. I am not visiting the Carrier Dome or participating in the 2018 US Bowling Congress Championship (yes, that is actually a thing taking place in Syracuse). I am in the midst of a road trip visiting baseball stadiums large and small. It is my chance to unplug …
This week is the fourth week of the month. For Reflections Off the Bimah, the fourth week features thought leaders drawn from throughout the Jewish world. These special posts give you the opportunity to consider important opinions you may not readily encounter. I have spoken many times about the intertwined and complicated relationship American Jews have …
You know those postcards with impossibly beautiful scenery, meant to inspire awe and jealousy in your friends and family? Well, living in Sicily for two weeks is like waking up every morning inside that mail sized marketing campaign. No picture, video, spoken or written word can prepare you for the beauty that awaits you each …
I love the pace of summer. People are enjoying stay-cations and far off travel. The neighborhood ice cream truck magically pierces the heat and humidity which is finally upon us. Even at shul, the summer stride is different. I am afforded space to read, think and plan which is hard to find during the normal …
By Robin Jacobson. Rabbi Akiva (c.50-135 C.E.) is a storied scholar and hero in Jewish tradition. His name appears more than 1,300 times in the Babylonian Talmud alone. Following the Roman destruction of the Temple in 70 C.E. – a tragedy that threatened to end Judaism – he and other luminaries started down a path …
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