91抖阴

The Art of Fly Fishing and Teshuvah

Oct 11, 2016 By Arnold M. Eisen | Commentary | Yom Kippur

I went fly fishing this summer with my son and a very patient instructor, and came away with three lessons directly relevant to the work of teshuvah.

First, fly fishing is hard, very hard, and if my skill at casting that day is any indication, it鈥檚 unlikely I will ever be very good at it.

Is This the Fast I Desire?

Oct 11, 2016 By Julia Andelman | Commentary | Yom Kippur

When I was a congregational rabbi, my practice was to offer a sermon on Yom Kippur morning relating to social justice. I would raise an issue of ethical concern in the world; share my reading of what Jewish texts and tradition had to say on the matter; and suggest actions for individuals and for the community.

The Bluebird Inside Our Hearts

Oct 7, 2016 By Marcus Mordecai Schwartz | Commentary | Shabbat Shuvah | Yom Kippur

there’s a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I’m too tough for him,
I say, stay in there, I’m not going
to let anybody see
you.

Returning with God

Sep 30, 2016 By Mychal Springer | Commentary | Nitzavim

This week鈥檚 Torah Portion, Nitzavim, speaks profoundly about teshuvah, the literal and figurative struggle to return to God. When we turn back to God 鈥渨ith all [our] heart and soul,鈥� the parashah tells us, then God 鈥渨ill bring you together again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you鈥� (Deut 30:3). Being scattered is a state of disorientation and disconnection. Teshuvah represents a coming home. There鈥檚 an organic connection between the return to the Land of Israel鈥攖he land at the center of the Jewish soul, from which we have been banished鈥攁nd the return that involves changing our ways and opening our hearts to God.

So Close to Me

Sep 30, 2016 By Bronwen Mullin | Commentary | Nitzavim

You say it鈥檚 in my heart
Like my heart is less a mystery than the great expanse of heaven
You say it鈥檚 in my heart
Like my heart is less a threatening thing than the deepest darkest ocean

Aphrodite and the Rabbis

Sep 27, 2016 By Burton L. Visotzky | Public Event audio

Judaism as we know it is a western Roman religion, argues Rabbi Burton Visotzky. Yes, the very empire that destroyed the Jerusalem Temple in 70 CE served as the culture in which Judaism was nurtured and became the religion of the rabbis that we still celebrate today.

Seeking Forgiveness for Structural Injustice

Sep 26, 2016 By Stephanie Ruskay | Short Video | Rosh Hashanah | Yom Kippur

Forgiving and Asking Forgiveness: Sound Bytes for the High Holidays 5777

Teshuvah in Two Directions

Sep 26, 2016 By David C. Kraemer | Short Video | Rosh Hashanah | Yom Kippur

Forgiving and Asking Forgiveness: Sound Bytes for the High Holidays 5777

A Heart of Compassion and Forgiveness

Sep 26, 2016 By Eitan Fishbane | Short Video | Rosh Hashanah | Yom Kippur

Forgiving and Asking Forgiveness: Sound Bytes for the High Holidays 5777

Return Us to You

Sep 26, 2016 By Mychal Springer | Short Video | Rosh Hashanah | Yom Kippur

Forgiving and Asking Forgiveness: Sound Bytes for the High Holidays 5777

Asking Forgiveness with Authenticity

Sep 26, 2016 By Paula Rose | Short Video | Rosh Hashanah | Yom Kippur

Forgiving and Asking Forgiveness: Sound Bytes for the High Holidays 5777

Forgiving Ourselves

Sep 26, 2016 By Anne Lapidus Lerner | Short Video | Rosh Hashanah | Yom Kippur

Forgiving and Asking Forgiveness: Sound Bytes for the High Holidays 5777

Getting to 鈥楽orry鈥�

Sep 26, 2016 By Shira D. Epstein | Short Video | Rosh Hashanah | Yom Kippur

Forgiving and Asking Forgiveness: Sound Bytes for the High Holidays 5777

What It Means to Enjoy

Sep 23, 2016 By Alan Cooper | Commentary | Ki Tavo

At one of our Shabbat afternoon Talmud classes some 50 years ago, after the usual bout of eating, drinking, and singing, the topic under discussion was what it means to 鈥渆njoy鈥� Shabbat and Yom Tov (Sabbath and Festivals). We discussed Rabbi Eliezer鈥檚 statement that Festival 鈥渞ejoicing鈥� is obligatory, as well as the two alternative ways he proffers for attaining pleasure: either by eating and drinking or by sitting and studying. Rabbi Joshua interjects that it should be half of one and half of the other (BT Pesahim 68b).

Everyone on the Team

Sep 23, 2016 By Craig Scheff | Commentary | Ki Tavo

Everyone on the team, from the manager to the coach, from a secretary to an owner, has a role to fulfill. That role is valuable if the team is to come close to reaching its potential. The leader must understand this. Every single member of your team needs to feel wanted and appreciated. If they are on the team, they deserve to be valued and to feel valued. Do you want someone on the team who doesn’t feel necessary and appreciated? How do they find out unless you let them know?

鈥擩ohn Wooden and Steve Jamison, Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court

The Blessing of Assimilation鈥擳hen and Now

Sep 20, 2016 By Arnold M. Eisen | Public Event video

Current 91抖阴 Chancellor Arnold M. Eisen revisits former 91抖阴 Chancellor Gerson D. Cohen鈥檚 landmark 1966 essay 鈥淭he Blessing of Assimilation in Jewish History.鈥� Chancellor Eisen discusses how the issues raised by Chancellor Cohen half a century ago continue to engage and challenge us today.

Why Do We Need a Reminder to Remember?

Sep 16, 2016 By Yedida Eisenstat | Commentary | Ki Tetzei

When was the last time you memorized a phone number? In the age of Gmail, iPhones, and Facebook, remembering has become a passive activity. But at the end of this week鈥檚 parashah, the Torah commands us to actively 鈥渞emember what Amalek did to you鈥� do not forget.鈥� But what did Moses command Israel to remember and why?

Promises, Promises

Sep 16, 2016 By Cheryl Magen | Commentary | Ki Tetzei

Oh, promises, their kind of promises, can just destroy a life
Oh, promises, those kind of promises, take all the joy from life
Oh, promises, promises, my kind of promises
Can lead to joy and hope and love
Yes, love!

鈥斺�淧romises, Promises鈥� (from the 1968 musical of the same name), lyrics by Hal David

Kosher USA: How Coke Became Kosher and Other Tales of Modern Food

Sep 14, 2016 By Library of the Jewish Theological Seminary | Public Event audio

Kosher USA follows the fascinating journey of kosher food through the modern industrial food system. It recounts how iconic products such as Coca-Cola and Jell-O tried to become kosher; the contentious debates among rabbis over the incorporation of modern science into Jewish law; how Manischewitz wine became the first kosher product to win over non-Jewish consumers; and more.

Corruption Begins at Home

Sep 9, 2016 By Hillel Gruenberg | Commentary | Shofetim

Only here are three prime ministers
investigated and don鈥檛 cooperate.

Only here do I feel belonging,
Even though I鈥檓 angry about the corruption.