Later this spring I will be a part of the Atlanta Jewish Music Festival’s spring showcase. Specifically, The Well, a musical Shabbat for which I am the primary composer and band leader, will be leading a Shabbat service/ concert at a local “cidery.” Having never been to a cidery or had the honor of being […]
Torah
Inevitability and Possibility
Yesterday I found myself thinking about inevitability and possibility. I found myself thinking about inevitability because of this week’s Torah portion, Vayeshev. Towards the beginning of the portion we read about how Jacob loved Joseph more than his other 11! sons and 1 daughter. In Genesis 37:4 we see how Jacob’s disproportionate affection triggers the […]
A Prayer for Healing
We need healing. Our world needs healing. I need healing. You probably do as well. To be human is to be broken and whole at the same time. To be human is to know that our bodies are beautifully imperfect vessels. To be human is to know that our souls can soar to the greatest […]
Beginner’s Mind Torah
Yesterday I had to transfer a Torah scroll from The Davis Academy Lower School campus to The Davis Academy Middle School campus. The scroll was being stored in an Ark that resides in a room adjacent to our Lower School gym. When I went to get the Torah scroll, I found our kindergarten students sitting […]
Shavuot: Receiving Torah
As Shabbat and Shavuot approach, I wanted to share a quick Hasidic teaching recounted by the great philosopher, Martin Buber. REVELATION EVERYDAY: The Kotzker Rebbe was asked: ”Why is Shavuot called (z’man matan Torah) ‘The Time that the Torah was Given,’ rather than ‘The time the Torah was Received?” He answered: “The giving took place […]
Jacob’s Journey
Imagine going to sleep. With a rock for a pillow. Imagine having a dream. And meeting God there. Imagine waking up. And discovering that God isn’t only in your dreams. That God is everywhere.In everything. In the rock. In the dirt. In the trees. In the sky. In the broken hearts you’ve left behind. In the promise of future days. […]