WORDS THAT BREATHE

An open letter to Camp Newman teens, staff and alumni from Rabbi Paul Kipnes about getting through after the fire. (Okay to share with adults too)

Our hearts hold both the loss of URJ Camp Newman AND care for all those facing harm and devastation.

Embracing complexity and nuance: Talking to your family friends whose opinions you hate.

As a house-sized iceberg was calved from the Alaskan glacier, we discovered poignant lessons for the Jewish High Holy Days.

Devoted, history-holding, once-in-a-blue-moon-visiting friends are a transcendent gift from God.

47,000 people are living homeless on the streets of Los Angeles. The Bible mandates we "give shelter to the homeless" (Isaiah58:7). A Reform Jewish congregation with a long history of taking on troublesome social justice issues. Measure H, a ballot measure designed to end homelessness, is endorsed by both democratic and republican leaders.

Why Judaism cannot be anti-abortion

Holding signs of support, we Jews gathered at the local Muslim mosque as part of an interfaith group of the faithful and other community leaders.

I sent this text to my children, on Inauguration Day - 1/20/17

Child spree: They were at-risk youth, searching for something new and not risky, to clothe them and keep them warm. We were comfortable suburbanites, seeking something meaningful and momentous, to clothe us in compassion and warm us from the chill of indifference.

A prayer for after the Election

Is Torah true? It really depends on your definition of the word "true." I am not parsing words here. The truth of Torah truly depends on what we mean by truth.

Is Torah True? Is there a difference between scientific truth and religious truth? Does Torah offer us answers to the how or the why of creation?

Be Chesed. In the midst of this election, choose unlimited overflowing love as your response. My Rosh Hashanah sermon

The history of Touro Synagogue, the oldest synagogue in the United States, offers lessons about social justice and religious tolerance that resonate even today. Video written & directed by Seth Front: http://sethfront.com "Shalom Rav" Performed by Nancy Linder: http://nancylinder.com Music by Jeff Klepper & Dan Freelander

How a car accident and a rape teaches us about the responsibility to stand up and be counted.

A Prayer for during a Fire: Our God and God of our fathers and mothers, as the flames burn, wreaking havoc upon our homes, our hills, our fire fighters, our sense of security, we turn to You for comfort and support.

Shabbat Video Message: Why we hike in the wilderness on Shabbat.

At a meeting with Palestinians near Bethlehem. We gathered to encounter the truth. That we are all one.

Our heartstrings resonated with story after story of those touched by mental illness, Alzheimer’s, homelessness, domestic violence, drugs, peer pressure, suicide, and the fear caused by terrorism. We discovered that alone we feel overwhelmed and powerless, but together we can become a source for change toward justice.