Rabbi Neal Katz In the mid-1990s, I worked for NFTY in Israel as a counselor and song leader. On one trip, we had a student who repeatedly crossed the line. That’s not unusual—16- and 17-year-olds push boundaries. But after multiple incidents, we had to send him home. It was hard. The group was shocked, the student was embarrassed, his parents were upset, and we as counselors felt uncomfortable. We weren’t even sure we were right. But we followed the policy to protect the gro

Elul 1/August 14 On Fridays, we email two Elul Thoughts, out of respect for those of us who choose not to look at email on Shabbat. We wish you a blessed and restful Shabbat and hope you continue finding inspiration in our Elul Thoughts. Rabbi Michael Sommer Some days we just need to wash the world away from us. We need to empty ourselves of all our worry and pains to be able to truly sit with ourselves. The miracle of every piece of biology that keeps us functioning sometim

The Hebrew month of Elul is the last month of the Jewish year. As such, it is considered a month of spiritual preparation for the High Holy Days. Special meditations are added to the daily service for some, known as S’lichot, or penitential prayers. (*The Saturday before Rosh Hashanah is also known as S’lichot, and it is used as a night of contemplation and study.) For several years, a group of Reform clergy and educators has collaborated on a series of Elul Thoughts. These a

Anyone who speaks with me knows that Pesach/Passover is my favorite holiday - and according to the PEW studies, I am not alone! Around 60% of American Jews celebrate Passover - which is a higher percentage of people than do anything else. If you missed the article written about me (and my Haggadot collection) you can read it here. Every year many organizations make supplements for the Seder, and others publish new Haggadot (like Central Synagogue in partnership with CCAR Pre

The Re-Orientation Process by Rabbi Deana Berezin The season of change is upon us once again. As we move from Elul into the High Holiday...

The Accidental Obituary by Rabbi Neal Katz The Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel is the subject of a well-known (and maybe legendary)...

by Rabbi David N. Young My family and I moved across the country this summer. My wife Natalie and I have three children. Our oldest...

by Rabbi Ben Sharff 'The measure of intelligence is the ability to change' -Albert Einstein. According to modern psychology, real,...

Change Towards Gratitude by Rabbi Lawrence Malinger When we awaken in the morning, we should recite, Modah/modeh ani lifanecka—I am...

We Carry the Ghosts of Our Past by Cantor Joanna M. Alexander We carry the ghosts of our past. Whether trauma or love, our new beginnings...

by Cantor Laurie Weinstein Confucius taught, “To put the world in order, first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, put...

Why am I doing this? by Rabbi Alan Litwak On the bulletin board above my desk, I have a small handwritten card: Why am I doing this? Why...

by Cantor David Berger Rabbi Jacob Moelin (~1355-1427), known as the Maharil, was the leading expert on Jewish custom in 15th century...

by Rabbi Harry Rosenfeld Martin Buber, in his book Between Man and Man, tells a story of a student who came to him. Buber admits that...

by Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker As the Days of Awe approach, we ask, “Who am I?” Before we respond to this profound question, let’s...

Balancing Act by Rabbi Michael Weinstein When you talk about and reflect upon an evil deed you have done, you become the captive of your...

Changing our names by Rabbi Batsheva Appel The challenging work of Elul is to review the past year, to see what changes we want to make,...

by Rabbi Matt Cohen It is all too common to focus on our shortcomings and faults as we navigate our way through the contemplative journey...

Changing Our Ways by Changing Our Direction by Rabbi Glenn Ettman I was walking in my neighborhood in Los Angeles when my attention was...

by Rabbi Stephen Wise I officiate around a dozen weddings each year, mostly in the warm months here in Ontario between May and September....