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To Be a Jew Today: A Blessing for a Broken World
In a fearful world, Judaism still calls us to bring blessing into brokenness. Rabbi Paul Kipnes asks: What does it mean to be a Jew today?
Rabbi Paul Kipnes
Oct 55 min read
Sanctuary in a Jazz Club
Jazz was my sanctuary that night in Chicago. Michelle and I had slipped into the Jazz Showcase , where saxophonist Bobby Watson , the...
Rabbi Paul Kipnes
Apr 64 min read
Climbing the Ladder to Self-Acceptance: Fulfilling a Childhood Dream on My 61st Birthday
When I was in elementary school, my mom took me to visit a fire station. I cannot remember if it was a family outing, a school trip or...
Rabbi Paul Kipnes
Feb 92 min read
Finding the Holy in the Everyday: Lessons from Sand Dollars and Nature’s Wonders
“Wow! God was in this place, and I did not know it.” So declared our biblical ancestor Jacob as he awoke from a dream. Once a deceiver...
Rabbi Paul Kipnes
Feb 93 min read
A Prayerful Invocation for Calabasas: Celebrating Leadership and Community
For the Calabasas City Council Reorganization Meeting And the Installation of Peter Kraut as Mayor Eternal One, Makor HaBrachot , Source...
Rabbi Paul Kipnes
Feb 93 min read
My Chiropracter Prepared Me for Rosh Hashana
Every other year in the days surrounding the High Holy Days, I find myself running to my chiropractor Joel Silbar , so that he can adjust...
Rabbi Paul Kipnes
Apr 30, 20234 min read
Sermon: That Time My Wife Was Spit on… In Jerusalem… By a Jew
Also known as:Rejecting Tribalism, Embracing Discomfort
Rabbi Paul Kipnes
May 1, 20221 min read
After Death: 8 Ways to Help
The misery of mourning and the overwhelming desire to help. I remember it well after each of my parents and my mother-in-law died. Three...
Rabbi Paul Kipnes
May 9, 20215 min read
After 11 deaths in 11 days, I Had it Out with God
Part 1: BACKGROUND [After 11 deaths in 11 days, I had it out with God. I realized it was time for that conversation with the Creator, the...
Rabbi Paul Kipnes
May 9, 202110 min read
Dear Synagogue Leaders: Go Back Better (to In-Person)
Dear Synagogue Leaders, We keepers of the flame Of Jewish communal living, Know- If we haven’t already done so – That the time to go back...
Rabbi Paul Kipnes
May 9, 20212 min read
3 Previously Banned Behaviors to Embrace these Home High Holy Days
The new normal of distanced coronavirus kehilla tefillah (communal prayer) offers new ways to enhance your Home High Holy Days. Consider...
Rabbi Paul Kipnes
May 11, 20202 min read
Letter to Your Future Self: Hold onto those Silver Linings
Ah, silver linings: those deliciously meaningful moments that make sheltering at home manageable and sometimes even inspirational. No...
Rabbi Paul Kipnes
May 10, 20206 min read
We Have been Here Before: Spiritual Wisdom for Enduring Covid-19
I feel this sense of deja vu as we began to cancel plans and hunker down. Yes, the coronavirus-compelled communal self-quarantine...
Rabbi Paul Kipnes
May 10, 20205 min read
Drive Thru Judaism: An Antidote to Quarantined Community
By Rabbi Paul Kipnes, Rabbi Julia Weisz , and Rabbinic Intern Adrianne Pasternak Craving personal connection to actual people? Missing...
Rabbi Paul Kipnes
May 10, 20206 min read
Pay It Forward, Covid-19-style
During this economic meltdown, will you join us as we Pay it Forward ? We have been blessed with a whole web of workers, businesses, and...
Rabbi Paul Kipnes
May 10, 20204 min read
Prayer for Rising Waters: Getting Through Covid-19
Holy One of Blessing, Who once blessed our ancestors, Shine for us A light forward, To illumine The unknown ahead. Grant us resilience,...
Rabbi Paul Kipnes
Mar 15, 20202 min read
It’s Been Weeks Since I Wrote ‘bout My Dad
It’s been weeks since I wrote ‘bout my dad They’ve been the weeks that I’ve just pushed on through Doing work, living life, passing time...
Rabbi Paul Kipnes
May 5, 20191 min read
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