A few weeks ago, in writing to you about the High Holy Day services, I referenced stopping the telling the story of the fish-dwelling prophet, Jonah in order to read to two-year old Nora. I thought, “Hey, I know what would make a good article! A fuller, playful retelling of the Book of Jonah.” But, […]

Text Late May 2020, and I’m talking to Phil, my beloved father-in-law. I’ve returned home from yet another protest that “Black Lives Matter” — and they still do. (You’ll notice the poster visible behind me when I’m on Zoom.) I’m stretched out in the living room’s one large, single-person lounge chair, legs comfortably resting on

Ten minutes before I begin leading High Holy Days services, a large dog leaps up and takes a softball-sized bite from the bottom of the two-foot-long challah on the table.I pause, oddly grateful that this is the first year such a thing has happened.My services are decidedly outside the box: bring-your-own-chair, under a metal canopy,

✧✧✧ Vignette #1 “I’m afraid I won’t be able to get through them,” the future bride says laughing, bu tearfully. I’m crafting a bespoke marriage ceremony for her and her partner. I just detailed some Jewish vow traditions we might or might not use. “How about personal vows?” I ask and continue, “These are promises

  Note: Setting boundaries is like painting a room. Before you actually start painting—which is, relatively, the easy part—there is a lot of prep work.  Similarly, the first seven steps to setting boundaries are preparation. Boundary setting doesn’t come until step eight. 1. Develop Self-Awareness Learn to notice your needs, wants, values, and limits. 2.

“I must be a bad person,” my friend J tells me. I called J just as I started my mid-day dog walk. He continues, “Maybe I should ask if you can forgive me… though I don’t know if that’s a thing rabbis do.” “Lay it on me. Let’s see what I can do.” “Well, I

Hi. It’s me. Brian. Rabbi Brian. Writing to you, beloved. How are you?What’s going on?How’s life? Me?Getting used to having a house without my son. Earlier this month he started his freshman year at Wesleyan, in Middletown, CT. And, I’m writing an article—in the form of a letter—that I’m planning to send to the ROTB

  4:1 Rule — It’s not easy. But it’s doable. And, worthwhile.     I hear the canister signaling that the process of carbonation is complete as the button is rhythmically, continually pressed.   Psssh. Psssh. Psssh.    Psssh.    Psssh-sh-sh-sh-sh.    Psssh. Psssh. Psssh Psssh.  Psssh-sh-sh-sh-sh.    Psssh. Psssh. Psssh.  Psssh-sh-sh-sh-sh.    Emmett presses the carbonating button on SodaStream

  5:6 WHERE LOVE MEETS US   One day, after swearing me to secrecy, a friend, stammering and sheepish, admitted she was experimenting with wearing a binder to flatten her chest, hoping to present as less female.   She also told me she was considering taking voice lessons to sound more masculine—or at least more

  I know better.   I know better.
   But I made a mistake.   I wish I had known better at the time.   But I didn’t.   And it cost me (1) a pair of prescription sunglasses, (2) a favorite sweatshirt, and (3) the case for my French horn.   Moreover, my mood