judaism

The Rebbe on the Tyrant Inside

April 26, 2006

The Oppressive Neighbor "No one is a greater tyrant than your friendly neighbor. Or fellow workers at the office. Or friends at the gym. The mere anticipation of their scrutiny arrests all growth before it can even germinate. "Why have...

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The Tree Psalms

January 19, 2006

Fifteen psalms (nos. 120-134) to be read on the days leading up to Tu Bishvat (the Birthday of the Trees)

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synagogue3000.org launches

January 05, 2006

A work in progress, but the folks bringing us together later this month have launched their new website: synagogue3000.org/ Synagogue 3000 is a catalyst for excellence, empowering congregations and communities to create synagogues that are sacred and vital centers of...

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Living with a Splash

December 21, 2005

"The Mikvah of Israel was adapted from Likutei Halochos, the momentous work of Rabbi Nosan of Breslov, zt'l. Likutei Halachos is a voluminous work in which Rabbi Nachman's teachings are brought forth as the esoteric level of interpretation of the...

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The Building and Maintenance of Mikvaot

December 14, 2005

We all use a Mikva at some point in our lives. Most of us, though, are unaware of how a Mikva is constructed and maintained. This week we shall begin a series of essays that will outline the basic...

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Emergent Christian, Jewish Leaders in First-Ever Meeting

December 07, 2005

"An epic moment [...] a chance for Jews and Christians to do God's work together, not just locally, but nationally, community by community, in shared witness to our two respective faiths."

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Kabbalah and Eco-theology

November 11, 2005

An article by Rabbi David Seidenberg from the Encyclopedia of Religion and Nature

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Kuntres Etz HaChayim

November 04, 2005

A classic chassidic treatise on the mystic core of spiritual vitality by Rabbi Shalom DovBer Schneersohn of Lubavitch

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Practical Rabbinics: Kedushin (aka the Jewish Wedding)

October 30, 2005

Part one in an ongoing series: Becoming a Neo-Hasidic Rabbi. This installation: The Wedding

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Onein and Onanism

June 06, 2005

Catching up on daf yomi, I learned Shabbat 25a today: It is logical that consecrated items are not excluded from the prohibition for indeed they alone are subject to the stringencies suggested by the mnemonic PaNaK I'Kat, which stands for...

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Hadar Shavuot Retreat

June 08, 2003

Work in progress... about my powerfully beautiful Shavuot experience with Hadar.

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Your Application

June 04, 2003

So at least I know I'm NOT going to be a Hebrew College Rabbinical School Student. Yet.

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Rabbinical School Interview

May 28, 2003

How did it go? An answer in process. My day in Boston, at Hebrew College....

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Lag B'omer Meditation and Drumming

May 20, 2003

Still humming from the love buzzing

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Drugs and Jewish Spirituality

May 14, 2003

A well–researched and interesting article on LSD and Judaism; and also a new book link by the author of Fast Food Nation.

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Signed, Sealed, and (Virtually) Delivered

April 07, 2003

Completed application = completely relieved + back–log of exciting projects

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Essay B: a Jewish bookreport

April 06, 2003

Select a book, article or essay that you have read recently and that is related to Jewish life/culture. Discuss your reactions, impressions and opinions.

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Essay A: Why The Rabbinate?

April 06, 2003

Discuss the path that has led you to apply for the rabbinate. Reflect on your own Jewish and personal growth in the context of this process (in 1000–1500 words!).

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What do all those abbreviations like BS"D mean?

March 16, 2003

A quick guide to your Hebrew ps–and–Qs, or Pehs–and–Qofs, as the case may be. B“H, BS”D,

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Why do we dip challah in salt?

March 13, 2003

Seeking deeper symbolism for this widespread custom, looking at Lev. 2:13, Yalkut HaReuveni, and Rav. Zalman Schachter-Shalomi.

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Misc Free Jewish Music Links

February 26, 2003

Some scoured niggunim and other audio from the web

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Drumming in Jersey

February 21, 2003

Doumbek in an NJ shul for kabbalat shabbat

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One–Sided Haggadah for a Tu Bishvat Seder 2003/5763

February 09, 2003

A black–and–white double–sided design.

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Washing ritual

February 04, 2003

...

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Tabernacle as the Human Body

February 03, 2003

The materials donated for the Mishkan correspond to the components of the human being.

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Becoming More Kosher

January 25, 2003

I’m planning on using separate dishes and utencils come Passover–time

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Rashi — A Light After The Dark Ages–CD-ROM

January 25, 2003

Rashi–A Light After The Dark Ages, is a one–hour animated historical drama, set in 11th century France. It is about Rashi, a Medieval Rabbi and scholar who lived just before the Crusades reign of terror. This animation seems to be...

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The Physical Form of Resurrection

January 23, 2003

It is well known that the 248 positive commandments correspond to the 248 organs of the body, and the 365 negative commandments correpond to its 365 sinews. Each part of the body corresponds to a speific mitzvah.

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Gematria of Tu Bishvat

January 14, 2003

Number–games with Hebrew phrases, praises for the Birthday of the Trees

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Orange–on–seder–plate tale is flawed, feminist says

January 12, 2003

“They took my idea and put it into a man’s mouth [and] erased the whole idea of the homophobia that needs to be spit out.”

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Rashi on Openings and Hollows

December 27, 2002

In the prayer   (Asher Yatzar) in which we are greatful for the gift of the body, there’s a fascinating phrase:     (Oft translated as “openings and openings, hollows and hollows.”) A quick search of the Judaic Classics Library find...

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Prayer Melodies for Weekdays

December 27, 2002

Instead of going straight into davennen this morning, I’m searching the web for some new melodies....

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If you will listen, really listen

December 17, 2002

free–write on the second paragraph of the Shma

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Scriptural Mnemonics to Thwart Forgetfulness

December 16, 2002

Personalized passages from the Bible and Jewish conceptions of the afterlife.

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The Particulars of Rapture: Reflections on Exodus

December 05, 2002

Avivah Gottlieb Zornberg's "The Particulars of Rapture: Reflections on Exodus"

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Hebrew Transliteration Tool, and Conference Prep

December 04, 2002

quick blah blah blah about yesterday and tomorrow

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“Get” — divorce in Hebrew

December 03, 2002

The deeper meaning behind the Jewish divorce document

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Lamed Gematria — the Heart of Eve

December 03, 2002

a little learning about the letter “lamed”

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The Wisdom In The Hebrew Alphabet

December 01, 2002

Michael L. Munk — The Wisdom In The Hebrew Alphabet — The sacred letters as a guide to Jewish deed and thought.

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New Claf, Peah 1:1

December 01, 2002

New claf installed on my doorpost.

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Unkosher Claf

December 01, 2002

Discovering that the scroll inside my door–hanging is not ritually sound

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Jacob Wrestling an Angel in Genesis Rabbah

November 20, 2002

Commentary on Jacob’s angel–wrestling from the midrash rabbah

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Astrology, Judaism and Kabbalah

November 17, 2002

The first twelve chapters of the Book of Genesis give us, in mythic outline, a schema that has a fascinating relationship to the twelve zodiacal houses or signs.

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Letter to Rabbi x

October 31, 2002

Text that never left my draft folder....

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Sam becomes Shir Yaakov

October 15, 2002

After my stay in the holy city of Ringe, I decided to start going by my Hebrew name.

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Rain, flood, Torah, strep

October 12, 2002

Not feeling so well, but interested in blogging something/anything.

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Thinking On Sarah Our Mother

October 05, 2002

Shabbat ends where the week begins

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Doulas to Accompany the Dying

October 03, 2002

Doulas are assigned to critically ill patients who are identified by hospital staff as having few or no family or friends visit during their hospitalization.

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Four Jewish New Years in the Hebrew Calendar

October 02, 2002

How many Jewish New Years are there?

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Writing a D’var on Va’yera

October 02, 2002

Each week B’nai Jeshurun will present an outline of the Torah portion, and questions for further study all written by a BJ community member. This teaching will allow us to study the week’s parasha together.

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Geodesic Bamboo Sukkah

September 26, 2002

White birds and buttresses frame our Sukkah of Rejoycing

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Purity

September 26, 2002

...

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Assembly: Sukkot

September 20, 2002

fingertips gaffertape sticky and shoulders suntouched and strong from hoisting PVC piping, twine and twigs five stories high then binding it all into a temporary home

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Who learns from the whole (of) human(ity)

September 13, 2002

On learning — in the classroom, in the body, in the world, in the Book

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Sharing niggunim (audio chain letter)

September 12, 2002

I sent an email to a bunch of Havurahniks; it went a little something like this.

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Applying for Clinical Pastoral Education

September 10, 2002

After an hour–long conversation, I’ve learned some valuable information about CPE.

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In Praise of Davvenology

September 10, 2002

Ultimately we are theo–tropic beings. We are meant to grow to God. Our deepest intuition is that we are meant to wake up a knowing that transcends business as usual.

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Building the Sukkah

September 10, 2002

Why festival booths? How is a Sukkah built?

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Untying Tzitzit

September 08, 2002

Brain unwinding, planning 5763

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last week of Elul 5762

September 08, 2002

fluid informality / letting words go [about] last week

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Correlating Parshiot and Zodiacal Signs

September 01, 2002

Seeking correspondences between the Torah portion and the lunar calendar

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B’nai Jeshurun Sanctuary Photos

August 26, 2002

Pictures inside NYC’s second synagogue, before and after the original ceiling collapsed.

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Adding the Imahot to Birkat HaMazon

August 21, 2002

How to include the Matriarchs when saying Grace after Meals.

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Story of the Aleph Bet

August 20, 2002

How the letter ‘Bet’ was selected to begin the Torah, from Sefer HaZohar (The Book Of Splendor, Section 1, 2b-3b)

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Four Worlds Shabbat Service

August 15, 2002

WORK–IN–PROGRESS: An outline of the Four Worlds Shabbat Morning Service at the NHC Summer Institute 2002

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Guided Meditation for the Flame

August 15, 2002

A guided candle meditation, illustrated by Rabbi Goldie Milgram

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GRE, RRC, JCC, SUNY/GED, DOI

August 12, 2002

Looking at schools, application processes, NEW JOB, classes, acronyms.

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Davvenen’ through the Worlds

August 09, 2002

Davvenen’ through the Worlds: A Flow-Chart for the Shabbat Morning Service, by Marcia Prager

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Introduction: Davvenology and The Four Worlds

August 09, 2002

Reb Zalman Schacter–Shalomi sees the “need for a new [prayerbook,] arisen from the times in which we live and the changes we are experiencing in our doing, feeling, thinking, and being.”

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Testifying Bird

July 14, 2002

If the husband warns his wife not to be secluded with a man and there are no witnesses to the seclusion...

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Mesechet Pesachim — Chapter 10

June 20, 2002

Usage of the Blessed are You... formula occuring at the beginning and end of both short and long blessings.

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Fellowship Application, Academiphobia, and a Good–Enough Diploma

June 17, 2002

A week–long fellowship, two admissions essays, and conquering my fear of school.

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On Tying Techelet

June 04, 2002

unedited musing on tying blue threads

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“Put upon the fringe of each corner a thread of blue...”

June 04, 2002

And it shall be for you as a fringe, that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of G-d, and do them... Numbers 15:38-39 I woke up today at six, thinking I’d have enough time to tye...

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Meditation and The Bible

May 29, 2002

Kaplan, Aryeh — Meditation and The Bible

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Tefillin Tour

May 25, 2002

A very cool "tour" of Tefillin....

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Dairy foods on Shavuot?

May 15, 2002

According to the extremely well-organized Chabad website on Shavuot: There are a number of reasons for [the custom of eating dairy foods on Shavuot]. With the giving of the Torah the Jews now became obligated to observe the laws of...

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Asking Moses

May 14, 2002

Tefillin on Shavuot? Shawl After Sundown? Blessing Nag Champa? Grazing Bread?

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Cejwin resurfaces

May 03, 2002

Not only did I run into an old camp friend on the street this week, but a reunion website has appeared, along with a comprehensive alumni/memories site. How coincidental....

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Before Trips to Israel, There Was Camp

April 29, 2002

I ran into an old camp friend on the street this morning; got me thinking of the joys of summer camp. I entered Cejwin into Google and came up with this article which claims camps "forged a brand-new kind of...

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Developing interpretative traditions

April 23, 2002

“We haven’t loved our particular sacred writings and traditions enough so as to have opened them to their full creative potential....”

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A Guide to Jewish Prayer — Adin Steinsaltz

April 23, 2002

Adin Steinsaltz — A Guide to Jewish Prayer

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Visual guide for putting on Tefillin

April 18, 2002

An illustrated guide to wrapping Tefillin for Sefardi and both Ashkenaz Beit Yosef and Sfard. .gif heavy (no HTML text, in fact)...

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Morning Blessings

April 16, 2002

The Talmud [Berakhot 60b] gives the following list for birkhot ha-shachar [blessings to be said early in the morning upon rising]: Upon awakening: Elohai neshamah On hearing the cock crow: Asher natan lasekhvi On rubbing the eyes: Poke'ach Ivrim On...

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Hebrewer 3.0

March 12, 2002

Hebrewer 3.0 is a web-based lexicon generator developed at the University of Texas at Austin. This version of the Hebrewer runs as an applet from within a Java-aware browser. [...] Once a noun or verb has been selected, the user...

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Bar Mitzvah Speeches by Marshall and Roly

March 02, 1991

“You’ll find, Sam, [life] is a cross between song and struggle.” ... “And if to be a Jew means to fix the world, and to at least try to address oneself [to the] task, where do you start?”

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