Laughing at Ourselves, Laughing at Authority
I want to share with you one of my favorite Talmudic stories from tractate Baba Metzia. The rabbis are debating whether an oven that had become impure could be purified. This may not seem like a [...]
Pardes Jewish Day School Students Reflect on Parshat Bo
“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Go to Pharaoh. For I have hardened his heart’.” Exodus 10:1 What is good about being hard-hearted? When might it be important? Sometimes you need to stand [...]
God’s Name, Heisenberg, and Humpty Dumpty
Can you believe it’s 2015? Don’t you just want to stop the train, keep time from moving relentlessly forward, and freeze the moment? I think this is kind of a natural, universal [...]
Who Ate the Garlic?- Jewish Teachings on Not Embarrassing Others
Who Ate the Garlic? As part of our Bar/Bat Mitzvah studies, I have the pleasure of walking to Starbucks with our young people and hearing each of their unique perspectives on life. Of course, [...]
Amazing Grace- Sources on Grace from Traditional and Surprising Sources
Amazing Grace Biblical The Hebrew word “kheyn”, is derived from roots meaning, “yearn towards, long for, be merciful, compassionate, favorable, inclined towards.” a few [...]