Join Rabbi Scott Hausman-Weiss from Congregation Shma Koleinu for "Conversations with the Rabbi", a podcast focused on world affairs, matters of the heart and how to view it all through a spiritual lens.
I do recognize that there is an existential angst plaguing our world, and it may very well be the cause of violent outbursts against the most vulnerable. And there is no question that a country with more guns than people makes the worst outcomes all the more possible. But how is it that if God forbid a child got drunk at your home, and suffered a horrible accident there or once he had left, that the laws are crystal clear that you, the homeowner, can be held liable; but if your unguarded, loaded weapon is used to cause terrible damage to others, that you cannot be held liable in most states and in most situations?
“The North American Jewish community has steadfastly come to the aid of Israel at moments of crisis. Israel belongs, first of all, to its citizens, and they have the final word. But Israel also matters to the entire Jewish people. When an Israeli government strays beyond what your commitments to liberal democracy can abide, you have both the right and the responsibility to speak up.” - An open letter to Israel's friends in North America by Matti Friedman, Yossi Klein Halevi, and Daniel Gordis.
Calling out the two worst human beings in the world.
“I was there for 10 minutes, and already I felt calmer.” And in that moment, I was reminded once again how Shabbat is a practice that when regularly “practiced,” sensitizes us to shabbats that arise when we are least expecting them. And that is a central element for what it means to live Jewishly. Yesterday, Ann Friedman and I visited the Auspicious Cloud Retreat Center in Chappell Hill, just an hour outside of Houston. Formerly the Margaret Austin Center, and now owned by the Houston Zen Center, this retreat center is where CSK's first Shabbat retreat will take place, this coming March 17-19.
It doesn't matter if you understand all the words, know all the rituals, are fluent in Hebrew and Yiddish. What matters is your fluency as a human being. And this is what Shabbat is about - the pause we need to reawaken to our humanness,.
If we're not wiling to break some eggs, what's the point?
The Inconceivable Surprise Of Living by Rabbi Scott Hausman-Weiss
Shabbat is always special. Shabbat at the Rothko Chapel is all the more so. Enjoy this recording of CSK Shabbat at the Rothko Chapel, 10-28-22.
This is a brief meditation on the meaning of withdrawal necessary to stay spiritually healthy.
An Invitation To Journey Parents from Rabbi Scott by Rabbi Scott Hausman-Weiss
If Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness doesn't encompass who we sleep with, who we build our lives with, where we learn and with whom, and when we start our families, then what does it mean?
This Is Why We Practice by Rabbi Scott Hausman-Weiss
The Rainbow And The Matrix by Rabbi Scott Hausman-Weiss
How many bullets? Forget about gun laws or sentence guidelines and background checks or red flag laws. Common sense says that an 18-year-old kid buying 375 bullets should raise a red flag in anyone's mind. Right now I am not trying to debate whether or not amending the 2nd Amendment, with laws restricting gun ownership, will end gun violence. I indeed do believe that we are suffering from far more than lax gun laws or overreach and under-regulation of guns. This is Texas, and last I checked, this is supposed to be the buckle of the Bible belt. And close to the center of that buckle, we are taught to not place a stumbling block before the blind; to build a parapet around one's roof to protect a guest rolling off while asleep; to not stand idly by the blood of your brother. AND we are taught: Lo tisna et achicha bilvavecha; hochei'ach tochi'ach et amitecha v'lo tisa alav chet. Do not hate your brother or sister in your heart; you must admonish, yes, admonish them or you will bear some of their sin. (Leviticus 19:17) To read this blog, go to: https://www.cskhouston.com/hearourvoice?post_id=1323723
The Jewish Position On Abortion by Rabbi Scott Hausman-Weiss
That said, I am not going to make a strong argument for or against the Exodus “happening.” Not to sound too glib, but for me it comes down to that question about the tree in the woods. If it falls, but there is no one to hear it, did it truly fall? That question is really about relevance. Does it matter? Does it affect our lives? Does the Exodus change the way we engage in that business deal we are in the middle of right now? Does it cause us to consider sharing more of our wealth with those who do not have enough? Does it inspire us to spend time on improving the arc of the lives of those who didn't have our luck to have been born into this life? These are the kinds of questions that arise for me when preparing for, thinking about, and observing Passover, all of which boil down to a single question: “Do we get it?” This, I will submit, is THE fundamental question of Passover.
In case you were wondering exactly what gas-lighting is, THIS IS IT! Making a claim so outrageous that you force others to prove it wrong, thereby making them responsible for the mess you've created.
I write this not from the point of view of political science or as a governmental finger pointer, but more as a prayer. I do not want to sit back and pretend that any of this is OK, “to be expected,” or “the price of admission.” As a Prophet of the people of Israel (I am neither a Prophet nor the son of a Prophet), but at times I must step into the Prophet's shoes and declare, “we are moving in a direction that is becoming our demise.” Of course, in many ways, this is not new. And there are so many who have suffered long before I raise these words today. We have stuck ourselves into a vice grip that is a self-fulfilling prophecy. To continue reading Rabbi Scott's blog, please click https://www.cskhouston.com/hearourvoice?post_id=1304973&edit=true%27#.
It's amazing and tragic the way history repeats itself. The question then is how to avoid it? Learn from it and step in when its your moment to ensure it doesn't happen again.
823,101 dead from Covid as of today, Thursday, December 30, 2021. What must we do to help make their deaths not be in vain? Be real. Be honest. Get vaccinated. And recognize that there is NOTHING in Jewish law, tradition, lore, minhag (culture) or bubemeisse (old wives tales) that teaches or requires otherwise. Photo by Susan Nerlove
Sigd is an Ethiopian Jewish holiday older than the Talmud. Oh, yes Horatio, there is far more to our Jewish world than Ashkenaz and Sepharad.
The Goyim Defense League? It would be hilarious if it wasn't so frightening. In Austin, as the American Jewish community remembers the Tree of Life synagogue massacre in Pittsburgh, this week three years ago, the self proclaimed "GDL" hung a banner proclaiming "Vax the Jews" over the highway exit near the Jewish Community Center. Don't they know we're the most pro-vaccine religious/ethnic group in the country? Oh that's not what they meant? Click to hear Rabbi Scott's take.
There are moments when we can and must recognize public leaders channeling the wisest teachings of our ancient sages. This is one of them. In a few short weeks, we at CSK will have the great privilege of welcoming into our community the chief executive officer of Harris County, Judge Lina Hidalgo. Elected by the voters of Harris County in 2018 at the age of 27, Judge Hidalgo has championed and secured greater and fairer access to the polls and advocated for the rights of business owners and customers alike to keep our public spaces as safe as possible from COVID-19. She speaks truth to power, advocating for ordinary constituents whose voice is so often unheard by the powers that be.Judge Hidalgo is a Latin-x woman whose office has fundamentally and forever changed the age, gender and race of the kind of person most had always imagined would occupy that seat.
We're all tired. And we all yet need to transform. How do we do it? The High Holy Days are a good place to start.
Over the past year, the existential crises brought to my attention have had much more to do with one's self and one's partner, than one's parents or other close, but not live-in, relatives. In many cases, distance did make the heart grow fonder. But now, yep!, masks are off. And with them, the potential for closer ties to make things a bit closer (and potentially difficult). All this is to say, as you begin to plan for the reunion with your parents or children, perhaps consider following these little 10 commandments of “re-entry.”
Israel is not an Apartheid state. If you want to have a meaningful conversation about Israel-Palestine, stop throwing stuff at us and do your homework. Any productive conversation between two people assumes that both are worthy of being heard, both are worthy of their own existence. Same is true of nations.
How do we respond to things over which we have no real control? And does our response make things better or worse for those actually suffering? Brief but daily prayer and meditation centers us, and keeps us more honest and reflective when things get rough. As our mystics taught, "There is nothing more whole than a broken heart."
Here are the words to the song: Mei libeinu anachnu sharim Mei libeinu anachnu sharim Uv’charta bachayim Uv’charta bachayim…Chayim (From our hearts we sing From our hearts we sing Choose life Choose life…life) Uv’charta bachayim, Uv’charta bachayim L’ma-an tichyeh uzchor Ki baz’chirah sod geulah Sod geulah mei libeinu (Choose life and choose life In order that you shall live For in memory lies the secret of redemption The secret of redemption from our hearts.)
It is true that each of us is unique and distinct in the world. A brain, a body, organs, all part of the individual "me" we use to move through the world. And yet, without reliance, interdependence, openness and vulnerability, each of is just a blip on a radar screen until we disappear from view. We're in this together, let's act like it.
All we have truly is Hayom - Today. What are you going to make of it?
Life's tribulations can get us stuck. Humility is the jump starter - the reminder that the more appropriate response may be, "Why not me?"
A striking image - perhaps it should remain like this for a while. As a reminder of the fragility of our freedoms.
Most of us find the news of the day to be challenging, infuriating and stultifying. Sometimes frozen in place, we may wonder if there is any reason to keep trying to repair the world. Let us remember that terrific modern parable about the starfish. A child comes along and sees a beachhead filled as far as the eye can see with washed up and vulnerable starfish. And there, at the shoreline stands a woman engaging in what appears to be an impossible task - returning the starfish to the sea. The child walks up and asks why she is doing this. He declares, "I mean, you could spend the whole day here and hardly make a dent. There must be hundreds of thousands." The woman looks at the child as she has just returned one more starfish to the water and says, "Well it sure made a difference to that one."
This is a poem drawn from a yearning to respond to the 326,000 Americans thus far lost to COVID. As a Rabbi, I seek to offer folks some reflective tools(?) for coping. Its so much not enough, but nothing ever will be enough to justify the far too early passing of those we love.
Feet Up, Prayerbook (or Tablet) In Hand by Rabbi Scott Hausman-Weiss
Hey CSK, what are your plans for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur? Well, have you ever been to the circus?......
If you cannot read the Hebrew above, you should sign up for this class! If you can read the Hebrew above, but don't know what it means, you should sign up for this class! If you can read the Hebrew above and know what it means literally, you should sign up for this class! If you can read the Hebrew above and know what it means, literally and soulfully, you would be a great addition to this class and you should sign up! If you can read the Hebrew above and know what it means, literally and soulfully, and you sign up for this class, you will find yourself challenged by what it really means for how we live our lives (if you sign up for this class!). What's the common denominator? Sign up! Whether or not you are a part of the Shma Koleinu community in Houston or via online.....you know what to do. You're welcome. Join us..you already belong.
Do you believe that every good and bad thing that has happened to you in your life is a direct result of your own actions?
Breathing Is Easy Without A Knee On One’s Neck by Rabbi Scott Hausman-Weiss
Flying Into The Wilderness by Rabbi Scott Hausman-Weiss
What songs are we writing and singing with our lives in this moment? Who do we wish to be? How do we wish to be remembered?
6 or 7 weeks into the "Q" as my sons call it, the novelty has worn off and now we wait. Try to keep safe, rally around those suffering from it or fighting it directly, and resolve our souls to mostly sit, contemplate and stay out of the way. How do we rise to the surface when it feels so dark and gloomy down here?
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