Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: One Creative Force
THE WATCHWORD OF Judaism, Shema Israel Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad, means “Hear O Israel the Lord our God,…
Suzanne Debey
Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: Being ‘woke’ and Judaism
“The whole world is a very narrow bridge; the main thing is not to be afraid at all,”…
Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: Imagine a new world
WITH THE HOLIDAYS behind us, after we have sent gifts, well wishes to friends and loved ones, and…
Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: Liberalism in Judaism
“If there is among you a poor person, one of your kin, in any of your towns within…
Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: Teaching our children
JEWS REGULARLY RECITE a prayer called the V’ahavtah, which comes from Deuteronomy and Numbers. The word V’ahavtah means…
Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: High Holy Day preparations
“THE DAY HAS come to take an accounting of my life. Have I dreamed of late of the…
Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: The Torah’s lessons of truth
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but hard words stir up anger” (Proverbs 15: 1). “Gentle words bring…
Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: Truth and honesty important in leadership
THROUGHOUT THE TORAH, we are taught the importance of honesty and justice.
Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: Choosing to be Jewish
DURING THE RECENT Jewish holy day of Shavuot, we reflected on the story of the giving of the…
Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: Passover and empathy in Judaism
THOUGH PASSOVER IS over, the lessons and themes continue to resonate. Two themes permeate Judaism … freedom and…
Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: Find courage to defend the truth
“Be strong and let your heart have courage,” (Joshua 1:6).
Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: The courage of religious leaders
“JUSTICE, JUSTICE SHALL you pursue” (Deuteronomy 16:20). The Jewish Bible, the Tanach, repeatedly tells us to pursue justice,…
Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: Freedom and the stranger
FREEDOM AND OPPRESSION are at the very heart of the Torah portions from Exodus that Jews will read…
Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: To protect religious freedom, keep it out of government
JEWS BEGIN THE holy day of Yom Kippur with the haunting chant of Kol Nidre, All Vows. This…
Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: In trying times, hold fast to values
THIS WEEK, JEWS turn their attention to the Torah portion of Vayeira (Genesis 18:1-22-24). This portion is comprised…
Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: Strength to be found in saying sorry
“Repentance, a turning, a returning, to the path that leads you to your highest good,” (Amen, Rabbi Karen…
Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: For faith, freedom lies in the separation
WHEN THE U.S. Constitution was ratified, Jews looked to this new country as a place where they would…
Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: Pinchas vs. Joshua and leadership choices
AS WE CONTINUE reading about the Israelites’ journey in the Torah, we come to a time when God…
Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: Fill your heart with courage and kindness
“The whole world is a very narrow bridge, and the main thing is not to fear, not to…
Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: Complicated relationship between Jews and Israel
“Praise God O Jerusalem, laud your God O Zion,” (Psalm 147:2–12).