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As we turn now to the powerful words of the Unetaneh Tokef prayer, we contemplate this question- What is the elusive, awful charisma of martyrdom? Tragically, in our own generation, we have seen a resurgence of the notion that there is great glory in dying for one’s religious beliefs. The…
Why every strategic leader needs to understand religious factors in the operational environment.religion and strategy final[1] A briefing presented to the 807th Medical Command, Deployment Support
Defensiveness is such a visceral, human response at even the hint that we may not be perfect. None of us wants to be reminded of our flaws, of the times we stumbled- I know I surely don’t! The struggle to be open to uncomfortable feedback has been a lifelong spiritual…
After we study a text, it is customary to say the Kaddish D’Rabbanan- the Rabbi’s or Teacher’s kaddish- probably the least known among the variations on the kaddish prayer. It is a special favorite because it combines two of Judaism’s highest values- learning and gratitude. In the Kaddish D’Rabbanan, we…
Forgiveness means so many different things to each of us. However we understand forgiveness, however we approach forgiveness, it is never easy. In fact, for most of us it is the greatest spiritual struggle of our lives. Sue Monk Kidd expressed it this way- “If God said in plain language,…
strategy temple chai 1 nov[1] An analysis of how military strategic planning can be applied to the religious community.
This year we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the battle at Gettysburgh, PA. In the Gettysburg address, President Abraham Lincoln described the United States of America as “conceived in liberty.” Birth is a bloody and painful process under the best of circumstances, and that conception doesn’t always go according to…
Pinchas, the son of Elazar, was a religious zealot. The book of Numbers, chapter 25 verses 1-9, describes his act of vigilante justice, thrusting a spear through an Israelite man and a Midianite woman, thus staying the plague which had afflicted the Israelites and killed 24,000 people. Living as we…
Does the number 5:14 mean anything to you? That is the precise time, according to the calendar, that Shabbat candles were to have been lit tonight- at least in Mesa- I didn’t check the Temple Chai zip code. I grew up in a Conservative Jewish household. That meant that my…
War is an ugly but tragically necessary aspect of human interaction. Within the first few chapters of Genesis, we encounter war between Abraham and the 5 kings. The Torah works to militate against the dehumanizing aspects of warfare by prescribing constraints on the behavior of combatants, and creating a ritual…