WORDS THAT BREATHE

When circumstances out of our control - like fires or other disasters - affect our ability to hold our Thanksgiving rituals in our usual way, we can become distraught. When life intervenes – like fires destroying homes or forcing a loved one to be absent – what happens to the ritual? By Sally Weber MSW and Rabbi Paul Kipnes

2 stories and a blessing for the new year. How will you make the next 365 days matter?

It is time for us to lift the veil of silence around mental illness, talking about it and our mental health journeys. Especially in the Jewish community.

A mother speaks about her appreciation that the Congregation Or Ami and its rabbis offered deep support for their daughter on her battle with depression.

The mother died four days after her daughter became Bat Mitzvah. And then I had it out with God.

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

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

A prayer for after the Election

Torah commentary on Nitzavim: Why did the people have to stand up so long?

The clergy of Congregation Or Ami (Calabasas) share their vision of the synagogue as a sanctuary of kindness, your second home.

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.

On our Shabbat hike, we experienced a different connection with God, a deeper connection that allowed us to experience God as our ancestors did. In the wilderness, without walls, without man-made things, it seemed easier to feel God's presence.

Leading your own synagogue Shabbat Hike is incredibly easy. In just 10 steps - simple but effective - you can embark on a moving spiritual experience. And, as we discovered on Congregation Or Ami's own Shabbat Hikes, the journey is inspiring and refreshing . They say that exercise is good for the soul. I think Shabbat in the wilderness is good for the soul too and if you can add in a hike, well – even better! To worship in an environment where you can hear the birds, feel the

The Hebrew word for truth is אמת (meet). The Hebrew word for mother is אמ (em) – the first two letters of the word אמת (meet). To discover truth, we are often need only go in the right direction, the one that our mothers point us in.

We must live in the world of the ordinary. But if we then open our eyes and look — really look — we can glimpse the extraordinary.

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.

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.

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.

What can you do in a sukkah? Choose among 70+ favorite Sukkah-Dwelling activities, courtesy of friends from the JEDLAB and Central Conference of American Rabbis Facebook groups.