Life is a Great Story

Here I share four stories from four funerals--people who were pearls, but definitely not saints--as we enter the Jewish holiday of Revelation. How does the uniqueness of each human being fit in with the collective? What about you?

There's this image I can't get out of my head of a woman with her two young children, all dressed up, parading them back and forth in front of a synagogue for hours, never intending to go in--because she knew that's what you did on Yom Kippur. But...At its worst, Judaism, or religion in general, can be so harmful. At its best, it can be healing...

Sometimes you just happened to find the holy in the ordinary, surprised, even shocked to find it in the seemingly most unlikely places, people, moments.This is what happened to me yesterday. Please take a listen and comment if it touches you in any way--and please be kind...

Can that be a good thing? But that's the teaching I heard this week. Also, I led a community seder this week and someone yelled at me for making it "political" instead of "sacred." But I think they're one and the same. Let me know what you think! After you listen, of course...and be kind.

With news furious and fast, we are living in times of intense chaos. Here, I talk about the Biblical Sacrificial System that feels chaotic in some ways, but also offers order in a chaotic world, where everyone knows exactly what they need to do. How does that compare to the dismantling of our governmental systems? And how do we bring calm to the chaos while also pushing back?

Now you get to find out how the Jewish Communist funeral from last week actually turned out.When I did this funeral, I was challenged to remind myself of what it was that was so powerful about Judaism that led me to become a rabbi. While my views on the world have essentially remained the same, it took me on a healing journey I never imagined was possible. Listen and find out--and leave a comment if you will.

You'll just have to listen to find out!

It's time for us to stop allowing our fears and anxieties to control us and masquerade as our Golden Calf, and put in our half-shekel to build a just and fair society. But to do that, we need to have open space within to allow the Divine to dwell, like the empty space of the Mishkan in the desert. Please leave a comment!And enjoy your Purim, if it's your thing.

I officiated at a funeral for a very "complicated" guy the other day. But a special kind of "complicated." You can judge for yourself whether he was an angel or an asshole--and let me know what you think!

Having a brush with death makes you think about things and reevaluate your attitudes. This week's Torah reading is about gifts and God dwelling amongst the Israelites. What does that even mean? Listen and share your thoughts!

We all struggle with our feelings when we witness the suffering of others. A couple of weeks ago, I met someone who was a true inspiration--someone who lives with the intention to listen and look at things that challenge her worldview, particularly around our victimhood as a people and Israel. Listen to find out what Torah has to teach us about this!And leave a comment, please.

If we truly believe (believed) that all humans are made in the image of God, all worthy of God's love, all worthy of life, then what does that mean for our world today and how we live in it.Maybe I've got some answers...Thanks for listening, and please leave a comment!

We've all been a part of a culture that teaches that Christianity is all about love, and Judaism is about stringency of the law.Yuck! Love is so much nicer, right?But it's simply not true! In fact, a central value of Judaism is love, and the teaching that we should love our enemies comes from Judaism, not Christianity!But that's a complicated question. Should we love our enemies, in fact? And how do we do that, even if we wanted to?Please leave a comment with thoughts...

As we enter a new Hebrew month, we see the Hebrew slaves in the Torah almost liberated as we reach the come to the end of the plagues. I struggle every year when I read this story. Because, how can we talk about a liberating God who is literally responsible for lengthening the suffering and enslavement of "His" people by hardening Pharaoh's heart? But this year, I had a flash of insight! Listen to find out what it was! And let me know what you think. And thank you.

Hanukkah, Christmas, and the secular new year, encapsulated as the "holiday season," essentially, have just ended. It was a hard one this year for me, full of nostalgia and longing, full of personal disappointments and unknowns, and also for what's coming. Perhaps I'm not alone in these feelings. So what did I do? I did the American thing of going shopping! In this episode, I tell the profound story that came out of it. I hope you enjoy it, and may it be a good year, different from all the doom and gloom that so many of us are experiencing.

We have entered the darkest month of the year, but it's also the month of miracles. The Torah so far is full of fraught family relationships and great life challenges, easily reflected in today's world. But it's also full of angels, adventure, and taking chances. Many blessings to be found--and miracles as well, despite everything. And Torah can serve as a guide for how to get through it all. I hope you enjoy the episode!

I'm a month late in getting this on the podcast, but it's still worth a listen. It's about immediately post-elections, a funeral, and a MAGA rally at Madison Square Garden. Good blessings that are still valid, too...

This is a complex episode that blends my experiences on Yom Kippur, a wedding I officiated the day after, and the final parsha of the year. I hope you enjoy it!

What is it we're really doing on Yom Kippur? Because if we don't believe in sin, and maybe especially don't believe in God, then what is it? It's actually pretty deep. Take a listen.

How do we know when to trust our intuition? How do we get to a place where we can trust others? That's what I explore today. Dare I ask that we have a sweet new year?

Last week, I found myself in very different worlds, closing off the outside world, as I did two funerals and a wedding. I closed off my feelings for what was happening in the wider world, aware that I could not handle all at once. And then I returned to "real life" and the news. It wasn't easy...a part of life we all have to navigate as we come in and out of different places.

A beautiful poem that I tend to read for funerals...by Mark Nepo

Have you seen A Discovery of Witches, or read the book? Such incredible lessons among the bloodthirsty vampires, powerthirsty witches, and...I'm not sure what to say about the demons, they seem so tame in comparison. There are lessons about racism, but most of all about hidden powers, powers we don't even know we have...Take a listen, take a watch, leave a comment...

If we can face the things we most fear in life, maybe we can turn the fears--what feel like curses--into blessings. Shabbat Shalom!

This week, I take inspiration from those who came before me, including Mary Oliver. Short and sweet. Shabbat Shalom

Between Tisha B'Av, the saddest day (but also conflicted day for me) in the Jewish calendar, and the two Torah portions that bookmark this holy day, not to mention Mr. Sleazy from last week, I have a lot of things to say about personal responsibility this week. To understand what the hell I'm talking about, take a listen! And Shabbat Shalom.

As we enter a more hopeful and exciting period in U.S. history at this moment, with a new presidential candidate Kamala Harris and her running mate Tim Waltz ,we face the myths of "childless cat ladies" running our country coming from the Trump/Vance campaign. As we begin the book of Deuteronomy, Moses also seems to be showing signs of trauma, as our country is traumatized in so many ways. I, too, had to deal with a somewhat traumatic situation last week with a funeral I did, which I'll tell you about...Take a listen to find out how it all connects and what spiritual lessons can be taken from it all.

Between war and vows, misogyny and tribalism, the Torah is again relevant this week. And between the excitement of Kamala Harris' campaign, her willingness to fight, her lack of fear to confront Trump, to confront misogyny and tribalism--and her heart--there is hope.

It's kind of scary--or relevant--when the news corresponds to something in the Torah in the same week. It's about anointing, but it's relevant who is being anointed. How do we know when something is ordained by God? Take a listen and leave a comment!

Here's what I'm drawing hope from this week when everything feels so dire: Dr. Ruth. Have a listen, and leave a comment--and a blessing! Visit my website, https://realrabbinyc.com to see the latest!

With the mess of the upcoming U.S. presidential elections, our aging and feeble president who refuses (so far) to step out of the race, our lack of good choices in what is supposed to be a democracy, the war in Gaza, Climate Disaster...what courage can we take from the lessons of Torah and this week's Parsha? There are actually some good ones. Including some surprises in the news that can help us build our own faith for our future.

Tomorrow is July 4th, potentially and supposedly a time of celebration and fireworks. What is there to celebrate in this difficult political moment? And what about those fireworks???? And what about that Korakh???

I saw a shocking thing today when a little boy grabbed his mother's phone and threw it into the lake. This led to a very long conversation with a friend about our phones, parenting, putting people in boxes, and the panic that has gripped us all in different ways. We told a whole story about this mother and her son, and then came the story of the spies in this week's Parsha. Take a listen and leave a comment! Shabbat Shalom.

I have so much on my mind this week. Things I wanted to say about last week's Parsha that I didn't get to, things I want to say about the recently rescued hostages, among other things. Listen and let me know your thoughts!

It's early in the week to have to be inspired, yet, Shavuos is coming tonight, and I need it now! So I found an interesting little anecdote to share. I hope you enjoy--and find inspiration in them as I did. Gut Yontif, Chag Sameach, and good Shabbos!

There was a lot to celebrate this week in my family; a wedding, and then a graduation. So much love, so much joy, so much pride. The graduation was especially impactful in its diversity, its connection to our roots, and that students walked out in protest of the war in Gaza--and the university president ignored them completely, as if they weren't there! In this week's parsha, as we begin the Book of Numbers, everyone is counted. So this all got me thinking about how we all count--or don't. Listen, and then leave a comment, please!

When do we whisper, and for what purposes. That's what I explore in this episode based on this week's Torah portion and all its horrible, horrible curses, and what's happening in the world.

This week is about living in harmony with the Earth, and what Torah tells us about that. But I tell a personal story of going to stay with a good friend who has a farm. What a needed time. I hope you get your fix too.

Do you ever start out thinking you have nothing to say and then you realize you have so MUCH to say? That's how it was today. There's such interesting meat in the Netflix movie You People and the Parsha this week. So listen and find out! Leave a comment please, as well, with any thoughts you might have pertaining to the questions I leave you with. It will help others find me! Thanks ahead of time! Shabbat Shalom.

I'm late getting this out, but the ideas expressed here are relevant for any time. The challenge we are given by our Bible to "love our fellow as ourselves," and also not to "hate our fellow in our hearts" are both difficult tenets to live by. Humans are very judgy people, and when we don't agree with others and how they live their lives, or they challenge our sense of identity, we can become angry and hateful. I come to this with more questions than answers, and challenge us all to approach the current situation with the same attitude, and life in general. Please listen! And let me know what you think!

It's hard to live expansively these days, with an open heart and an open mind. But is it possible?

I'm more than a little bit worried about Passover this year due to the current events in Israel and Gaza. My own family is divided in terms of political opinions over this, and there's a fair amount of tension around it. I'm sure I'm not alone. As it is, Passover gatherings can be fraught, as any family gathering, but especially when we're used to bringing in current events to our Seder discussions. So how DO we? And what's it got to do with the Parsha this week (if you care). Happy Passover to everyone, and Good Shabbos.

Just listen. There's a lot here.

This time I share a beautiful poem and some thoughts about how it might be connected to the parsha, and I ask for your thoughts on how they might be linked.

Facing death with dignity, standing up for right to do that and to be treated with care can be one of the hardest things, especially when doctors and family and friends intervene. What does Judaism have to say about this, and how do we live our highest values?

I officiated at a memorial service this week for a man who died too young of brain cancer. There were many lessons to be learned from the way he lived and the way he chose to die. Wittingly or unwittingly, he made mistakes. This week Torah tells us how to make expiation for our wrongdoings, but really stays on the surface. I go deep with this one—as I always intend. Take a listen!

Carlton Pearson was an Evangelical preacher turned heretic for preaching that hell is a human invention—one we don't need any help creating for ourselves. He began preaching of a loving God of inclusion. I wonder how this lesson applies to me, or to us. I wonder how we as Jews are becoming the haters we accuse others of being.

Is it possible to be too generous? To give too much? In this episode, I tell the funny and fun story of a Ukrainian Jewish/interfaith Muslim wedding ceremony I officiated recently, and ask those questions. (Please leave a blessing in the comments section after you listen—or a comment will do as well; it will help more listeners find my podcast! And thanks!)

I heard a heartbreaking yet heartening story of a family from Kibbutz Be'eri on This American Life (Family Meeting is the name of the episode, released just this week). It gave me hope that, despite the trauma and fear, we can resist giving in to the hatred and anger, and maintain our ideals for a world where we can support each other and live together peacefully—where we don't have to give in to the false gods that are the political forces that seek to keep us trapped.

Have you seen the show Resident Alien on Netflix? It's really funny. It's about an alien from outer space living among humans who thinks he is far superior to us. But he learns a thing or two about what makes humans special—our compassion—which we often forget to have, especially when we're frightened. But politics capitalises on our fear for its advantage. The question yet again is how do we keep our compassion? And doesn't the future of our species and our planet depend on it?

I did my first funeral last week! What a difficult situation it was. But it was full of gifts as well. So is this week's parsha.