WORDS THAT BREATHE

My father-in-law Murray November and his photographs illuminate the intense soulfulness of animals.

Rabbinic Intern Dusty Klass is finding blessing in the in-between. Especially through Bar Mitzvah tutoring, Shoes that Fit, parenting and yahrzeit boards

A Hasidic story about bitterness and sweetness, and our chance to taste the sweet.

5 ways to give thanks on Thanksgiving, making it a spiritual holiday of gratitude.

We run 3 Mitzvah Day projects a year, bringing hundred of people together for sacred social justice work.

Marsha Austin reflects on Mitzvah Day at Congregation Or Ami and the 400+ comfort bags we prepared.

Ken Meyer reflects on Mitzvah Day at Congregation Or Ami and the 400+ comfort bags we prepared.

Teen Abby Gore reflects on Mitzvah Day at Congregation Or Ami and the 400+ comfort bags we prepared.

Jonathan Levy (father of 2) reflects on Mitzvah Day at Congregation Or Ami and the 400+ comfort bags we prepared.

Shelly Hiskey (mom of 3) reflects on Mitzvah Day at Congregation Or Ami and the 400+ comfort bags we prepared.

Life Lessons from Shimon Peres, as conveyed by David Sackman, from David's hour long meeting with the 90+ year old former Prime Minister of Israel.

Synagogues, like our own Congregation Or Ami, are retooling, experimenting, failing at times, and picking themselves up to innovate anew. The results are exhilarating! Jewish Start Up Synagogues – often the older shuls that are renewing themselves – are exciting and exceedingly hopeful.

Cantor Doug Cotler, son Cantor Kyle Cotler and Rabbi Paul Kipnes lead Havdala for 5000+ Reform Jews at the Union for Reform Judaism's Biennial Convention.

Halloween Torah: The Akedah is a bloodcurdling tale of a menacing father who almost murders his kid, a nightmare waiting to keep you up all night.

Rabbi Evan Goodman addressed the UC Regents on anti-Semitism policies across campuses. Rabbi Evan stated, "To solve a problem, you must be able to able name that problem. We have a problem here. That problem is anti-Semitism."

Lech L'cha - our journeys, especially those that lead us beyond the familiar or out of our comfort zones, can lead to inspiring metamorphosis. When Abraham and Sarah ventured into the unknown, they became a long lasting great nation. We pray that by embracing inclusion our synagogues, camps, youth movements, day schools, JCC’s and other Jewish organizations will similarly heed the Divine call.

Youth engagement succeeds when teens have real life responsibility for their own Jewish learning. After years of adequate adult-led youth services we reached out to our teens. Their involvement as High Holy Day service leaders resulted in more spiritually engaging youth services and also the development of a cadre of teens capable of leading their younger peers in meaningful worship.

TV Reporter Megan Boykoff created a report about Congregation Or Ami's Mitzvah Day, creating 400+ Comfort Dufflebags for kids entering emergency foster care

Teen Dani Klinenberg reflects on Sh'ma. With six short words, we can recognize God’s greatness.

Two by Two: A Pair of 10 Lessons from Noah's Ark.