WORDS THAT BREATHE

Passover invites us to place ourselves within the story of the Exodus from Egypt. In the Haggadah we read: The Seder calls us to journey personally to the promised land, from hopelessness to hopefulness, from pain to healing, from oppression to freedom. As such, the Seder itself needs to involve every person, a feat easily accomplished with one quick email sent to your guests. Imagine asking guests to prepare to share something specific during the Seder. Your email sent even

I’m just back from the Central Conference of American Rabbis convention , a gathering of 600 Reform Rabbis from all over the United States, Canada, Israel, Europe, South America and elsewhere. Four fabulous days of inspiring worship, thought-provoking speakers, pastoral skill-building sessions, and insightful study of our Jewish texts. I return home with Evernote (books) filled with ideas and insights for the many roles I live as an American Reform Jewish congregational rabbi

I have so much hair... It may not look like much, what with my crown peaking through. But I'm really okay with my unadorned cranium. Because, compared with kids with cancer, I'm really one hairy dude. So when I was asked to put my few follicles on the line to raise awareness and funds to combat childhood cancer, I jumped at the chance to test my supposed lack of vanity. On Tuesday, April 1st - one week from today - in the midst of a Rabbinical convention, I will be shaving my

I PLEDGE TO CHANGE THE CONVERSATION For too long, the extreme religious right has dominated public conversation about religion and sexuality in this country. As a result, an unprecedented number of bills are being proposed–and far too many are passing–that attempt to write one narrow-minded, dangerous religious view of abortion and sexuality into law. The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice believes that it’s time to tell the truth: most people of faith, like the maj

Where is God, and what does the Holy One want from us? These timeless questions animate so many of us spiritual seekers. Of course, there are better places to look for an answer than in this week’s Torah portion, (Leviticus 6:1-8:36), unless you consider barbecuing as divine service. If you read Tzav literally, you come away with a clear sense that the Holy One has a soft spot for a good steak and some grain (perhaps baked into a delicious loaf of bread) to dip in some warm

We all lose sleep worrying about things. For me, it's about Fundamentally though I - like so many other American Jews - rest pretty easily because we know that as Americans, as Jews, and as human beings we are protected by the strength and democracy that is the United States. Most of us don't have to worry about being battered because of our religions. Being slammed because of our nationality. Being violated because of our gender. Yet I have memories , vivid memories, of a d

You step out of the shower, towel off and stand before the mirror. It’s just you and your reflection … the naked truth. Your eye appraises without mercy. Under the bright lights, no imperfection can be concealed; no blemish disguised. Or … It’s the morning after. Lights once dimmed now illuminate the room. In the light, there are no secrets. You bare yourself before your lover. Masks removed, the “physical you” awaits your lover’s judgment. In these moments, we tremble. Thi

What does it mean to be a Jew? A curious verse in this week's Torah portion provides insight. We read that the Israelites were to place before the sanctuary, a moveable tabernacle built by a wandering people in the wilderness. "The will stretch forth their wings on high...and their faces will look to one another" (Ex. 25:20). What are the ?  No one is exactly sure. In a Midrashic source, the folk etymology is given according to which the singular form means , "like a yo

As the new calendar year begins, we are entertained by those Year in Review lists and Person of the Year awards, both inside and outside of the Jewish communities.  Time  magazine aptly chose the Pope Francis as its Person of the Year for his calling for a church of healing.  T'ruah, The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, honors its  T'ruah Rabbinic Human Rights Hero Award  including (deservingly) LA's Rabbi Dara Frimmer (Temple Isaiah). Perhaps most uniquely, Jewrotica, the sel

I just wrote my Congressman to urge his opposition to anti-choice legislation. On the recommendation of the Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism , I stepped up and let my voice be heard. I hope you will also. The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (H.R. 7) is a dangerous and highly restrictive bill that severely threatens the right to choice affirmed by the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade. This legislation would prevent women seeking needed reproductive health care from

When in your life has the sea split (metaphorically) allowing you to walk freely into your life? This is the question I posed to our community (at Congregation Or Ami and our Facebook friends), as I prepared for Shabbat Shira (the Sabbath of Song) which remembers the splitting of the Red Sea. So many responses came through and I invited three people to share their insights. Seth Front shares his reflections below on "You Cannot Go Back". You Cannot Go Back, by Seth Front  Wha

OR: How the Whole World Planned this Shabbat's Service It all began two weeks ago with a simple question on Facebook : Who expected the depth of responses from all over the country? When I left my husband When I finally asked my Dad for a hug When I came out When I figured out how to balance career and family When I began taking Lexipro When I was marching in Washington to celebrate Marriage Equality When I made aliyah to Israel and founded Kibbutz Lotan When I returned to

Ethan at center with Camp Friends Camp Newman Through a Mother’s Eyes: Before and After By Marcy Cameron Before Camp - June 6, 2013 He Didn't Want to Go Our 7th grade son, Ethan, did not want to go to sleep-away camp, but after years of hearing Rabbi Paul Kipnes praise the value of URJ Camp Newman , my husband Clark and I were determined to send him anyway. Ethan's "comfort zone" is home. New adventures tend to create anxiety for him. Even though he prefers going to school, h

Amanda Front (left) at Camp Newman with friend Jacqui Osborn The URJ Camp Newman Experience By Amanda Front “URJ Camp Newman.” Just hearing those words brings a smile to my face and precious memories into my head. The highlight of my summer was spending two weeks at Camp Newman. This was my first time ever going to sleep-away camp and I am already counting down the days until I go back to camp next summer: 234 days!!! The staff is amazing! The counselors are the best! They ar

Make a New Year's Wish. (I have a bet with a friend that I can get more suggestions than he will.) If we could do one thing to heal the world in this new year 2014,  what would you suggest it would be? . Created with Padlet Don't see my "wall"? Click here .

Many tears were shed that day as Brandon signed his parasha (Torah portion). But on the most fundamental level, there was nothing that remarkable that a profoundly challenged - disabled? handicapped? exceptional? - child followed the Jewish path. Because inclusion is just what Judaism expects.

Alden Solovy, a gifted liturgist, wrote a new prayer to be said upon receiving a diagnosis of Alzheimer's or Dementia. As with all his prayers, it is heartfelt and beautifully written. His work is available on his To Bend Light , an overwhelming collection of poems for today. I share this prayer with you here, in memory of my grandma Esther Kipnes who died many years ago from this horrible disease. I shared her story in (Doug Kohn, editor, URJ Press). Diagnosis with Alzheime

It is Erev Christmas (Christmas Eve), and I'm at home. No plans to go out to a movie. No desire to eat Chinese food. I'm feeling a little guilty but I'm not really feeling very religious this year. Does this make me a bad Jew? Many words have been written about why Jews eat Chinese food on Christmas. Rabbi Joshua Plaut penned an article about it.  One researcher wrote a 100 page research paper on it. We have the famous interaction between Supreme Court Justice Elena Kage

I turned 50 today. 5-0. The big half century. In honor of this simcha, my Congregation Or Ami (Calabasas, CA)  sent out this letter to invite people to help celebrate my big birthday in a particularly meaningful way: December 2013 | Kislev 5774   Our beloved Rabbi Paul Kipnes turns the big 5-0 (yes, fifty) on December 23rd. Help us celebrate it in a way that will be inspiring and meaningful to him. Help us sustain the sacred work that he has made the center of his rabbini

We all need help sometimes – The Ezra Network is now here to help. “Ezra” means help in Hebrew. When it’s easy to get, that mean everything! If you’re facing economic problems or living with the challenge of helping an aging parent or a teen in trouble, you’re not alone. Now, here at our synagogue, you can get help with financial assistance and government program eligibility, access to one-on-one sessions with a social worker, legal counselor or job counselor, as well as