Suzanne Debey

ISSUES OF FAITH: Finding our light through service to needy

THIS WEEK’S TORAH portion continues telling the story of the Jews’ journey through the wilderness. They have received instructions on the building of the sanctuary… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: Bring back the light within us all

THE DAYS HAVE been growing shorter, and even when the sun does shine, it generates so little heat it feels as if it has deserted… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: Chase the hate from our hearts

THE JEWISH MYSTICAL tradition of Kabbalah teaches us that every word, even every thought has a ripple effect in the world. We may not know… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: Celebrate renewing relationship with God

“THE DAY HAS come to take an accounting of my life. “Have I dreamed of late of the person I want to be, of the… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: Beware of theocracy

WHEN THE U.S. Constitution was ratified, Jews looked to this new country as a place where they would be safe from persecution, not only because… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: Use words, actions to help heal the broken world

“A GENTLE ANSWER turns away wrath, but hard words stir up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). “Gentle words bring life and health; a deceitful tongue crushes the… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: Learn from the past or risk repeating it

IN NUMBERS 11: 1-29, a recent Torah portion read in Jewish communities, the Israelites are wandering the desert complaining about the lack of food and… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: Use prayer to find strength to act

“THE HOLY ONE says to Israel: I bade you pray in the synagogue of your city, but if you cannot pray there, pray in your… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: Where is the holiness in today’s culture?

“YOU SHALL BE holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy” (Leviticus 19:2). This powerful portion of the Holiness Code in the Torah is… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: Embrace light and chase away the darkness

DARKNESS AND LIGHT. As our days get shorter and nights darker, Jews light the Chanukah candles, one more for each of the eight nights, almost… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: To coexist, see ‘only the good in all religions’

THE TALMUD TEACHES that the righteous of all nations have a share in the world to come. One of the things which drew me to… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: Be vigilant in protecting religious freedom

JEWS BEGAN YOM Kippur recently with the haunting chant of Kol Nidre (“all vows”). In this prayer, promises made in the past year are declared… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: Never forget, because history is watching

NEVER FORGET. HAVE these words about the Holocaust become a cliche? There seems to be a weariness about the subject. “Yes, it was terrible, but… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: Gratitude crucial to a well-lived, -balanced life

IN JEWISH TRADITION when celebrating a special occasion or showing gratitude for a new and unusual experience, we recite a blessing from the Talmud called… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: Be careful not to let fear guide your actions; instead, trust in God

A RECENT TORAH portion tells the story of Moses sending scouts from each of the 12 tribes into the Promised Land, as God had instructed.… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: In your moral compass, be ‘strong as the sun’

IN THE 2015 Disney movie “Cinderella,” Ella’s mother tells her, “Remember to always be kind and have courage.” I admit I am a sucker for… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: Through Passover, building a bridge to the repair of the world

DURING THE RECENT Jewish holiday of Passover, we celebrated spring’s new birth and a journey from slavery to freedom. We were told to personally “experience”… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: Examples of ‘law and order’ atrocities, resistance abound in history

THERE IS OFTEN a perception that Judaism is focused on following laws rather than being concerned with love, compassion and mercy. Anyone who spends time… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: Justice can help repair the world

“When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not wrong him. The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: Reach out to combat the spread of hate

A BASIC PRINCIPLE in Judaism and Kabbalistic tradition is the profound regard for all life and that every soul is a fragment of the divine… Continue reading