I took out the trash early in the morning. It was cold and dark. I dragged the bin to the street and put it in its usual spot– right underneath a streetlight. The glow of the streetlight made the thin layer of frost sparkle like the night sky. It was stunning and dazzling and in […]
A Small Beauty
A Blessing Upon a Child’s First Siddur
Many Jewish educational settings have special celebrations during which children receive their first siddur. I wrote this prayer with the intent that it be offered by community rabbis but it could easily be offered by teachers, parents, or anyone else that wishes to offer a blessing for such an occasion. A Siddur is a […]
When We Sing We Pray Twice
Every so often our complicated Middle School academic schedule allows for a moment of Jewish creative inspiration. That was the case recently when we were able to offer a “breakout” Tefilah during our regular Tefilah time. Advertised as a “singing Tefilah” the “cost” of admission was that anyone who came, came ready to sing. 60 […]
The Big Thing
There’s a big thing A thing we can all connect to a thing that’s true and real and beautiful and powerful and enduring of course it’s not a thing, but calling it the big thing is convenient and appealing in a way due to the lack of elegance the big thing is elegant, but it’s […]
The Theological Quandry of the Cockroach
I recently found myself in a Tefilah discussion with 1st graders. We were exploring the idea that God created everything. From the smallest grain of sand to the tallest mountain, from the dolphins that swim within site of the shore to… the mighty a resilient cockroach. What do you do when you see a cockroach, […]