01 Rev. Jim Burklo: Resistance against oppressors: a biblical explanation

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Jim Burklo was my (Rabbi Brian’s) first interview because this USC Dean of Religious Life is the father of many congregations running their own “resistance bible studies.” I want to grow up to be like Jim Burklo. He is smart, funny, serious when he needs to be. And, he has a great big heart. The kind that just makes you think, “I want to love people like he does it.”

Slow Down, Good Sam

In 1973, researchers John Darley and Daniel Batson at Princeton University conducted a study based on the biblical story of “The Good Samaritan.” ✧✧✧ A little background on the story: Samaritans, in the biblical world, were not considered “good.” The phrase “Good Samaritan” would have sounded like a political oxymoron—something like “compassionate MAGA” or “patriotic liberal.” In the story, a

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A Letter

Beloved, Let me tell you something I often say when counseling those mourning the loss of a loved one. “Unless you are a rabbi or minister, you shouldn’t be good at writing eulogies.” And then I add: “Let me give you a pro tip—think about writing a letter. Because you know how to write a letter and this way you

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With Bread

 Love. With Bread. ✧✧✧ I live in a very progressive city. But, not everyone is of one mind. In fact, three houses to the north live Merrilee and Sardar, who, prior to the 2020 election, posted a “Trump—MAGA 2020” sign in their yard. The day Biden was elected, I texted them that a number of my friends and I were

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77% Weekly Newsletter
77% Weekly Newsletter