Tag Archives: Judaism

Levity: It’s Not Just for Levites on Purim

Purim is the one day of the year to strip away all pretenses and reveal to ourselves who we really are beneath the self-control of rational thinking. Continue reading

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Happy Holiday? What Holiday?

John greeted the man with a hearty, “Merry Christmas!” He smiled, shook my husband’s hand and answered politely, “Merry Christmas.” At this, the realization of the man’s Jewishness smacked John on the brain and knocked something loose. Continue reading

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Christian Pilgrims Celebrated Sukkot in the New World

The Pilgrims celebrated Sukkot in the New World at their first harvest, inviting their new Native American friends to join them. The Wampanoag people at that time followed neither Judaism nor Christianity. That didn’t stop them from celebrating life and harvest with their Christian neighbors, nor did it stop devout Pilgrims from celebrating with them. That celebration became what is known in America today as Thanksgiving. Continue reading

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Why Would God Hate our Festivals?

God said, “I cannot bear your worthless assemblies. Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals I hate with all my being. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening.” Isaiah 1:13-15 Continue reading

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High Holidays: What if I Do it Wrong?

This should be the sweetest time of the year. But, for some, the High Holidays produce incredible anxiety. What if I don’t know Hebrew? Can I say the prayers in English? What if I don’t have a proper kiddush cup? Can I use a wine glass? What if my family doesn’t observe the days? Should I celebrate without them? What if I hate the taste of apples and honey? Do I have to eat it? Continue reading

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Was the earth populated by incest?

“God created Adam and Eve. The rest of the earth was populated by incest.” Why incest between consensual adults, before the time of Moses, was neither religiously nor genetically taboo. Continue reading

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Tisha B’Av: Overcome baseless hatred with baseless love

Though the day is inherently Jewish, the message of Tisha B’Av reaches all people. Large-scale acts of hatred do not spontaneously erupt. They begin with individual attitudes, individual choices and individual acts of discrimination. Continue reading

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When You Have Eaten, and Are Satisfied. . .

“You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth. . .” (Deuteronomy 8:10, 17-18) Continue reading

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Telling religious to Get Over It is the wrong message.

Dan Savage’s call for religious people to ignore the Bible divides Jewish and Christian communities and the LGBT community even further; and stems from a misunderstanding of what the Bible actually says. Savage, and others concerned with equality, should call upon us to stop ignoring it. Continue reading

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Orthodox Jews protest at the home of Messianic Jews

They gather in the parking area outside of Polly’s home, take pictures of anyone who comes or goes, and yell insults and obscenities, including, “Jesus, the bastard,” over loudspeakers. They’ve been protesting for eight years. Continue reading

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