On Sunday night, we begin the holiday of Chanukah.  In these moments, in our own day when we might feel like hiding or turning inward, the laws of the holiday command us to advertise the miracle. This means placing the Chanukiyah by the window for all to see. Maimonides Laws of Chanukah clearly states: …The sages […]

  Welcome to Shabbat Awakenings, a weekly reflection as we make our way toward Shabbat. This week’s portion is regarded as one of the most beautiful reconciliations of the Torah. It rivals the section we will read in a few weeks of Joseph’s dramatic revelation of his true identity to his brothers. But I don’t […]

Welcome to Shabbat Awakenings, a weekly reflection as we make our way toward Shabbat. Perhaps it is the ladder, set on the earth ascending, heavenward. Or it might be the angels who move up and down the ladder. The dream is vivid and full of imagery and it all belongs to Jacob. He escaped his […]

Welcome to Shabbat Awakenings. This week we have arrived to a pregnant Rebecca whose belly holds twins. After finally conceiving, the sons struggled within her. The Hebrew is yitrotzetzu. (Genesis 25:22)  We know that these two in her womb will set the stage for confrontation, deception, strife, and dispute. Jacob and Esau, these little babies […]

My heart is in the East and I am at the edge of the West. The philosopher and rabbi, Yehuda Halevi wrote these words in the 12th century as he tried to make his way to the land of Israel. His poetry expressed his longing to be there though he remained away from it. I […]