
What are the Chances?
This is one of my favorite jokes: One day, Bernie hears a voice. The voice says to him, “Tomorrow, don’t park your car where you

Why Were You Not You? & Talking for God.
Reb Zusya was one of the pioneers in the Hasidic Jewish movement (This movement began as an alternative, hip-Judaism – a breakaway, renegade way of

Do Not Make Lemonade
Here’s a phrase most of us know – if life gives you lemons, make lemonade. “If life gives you lemons, make lemonade” means, “Do your

Why Are Leaders Assholes?
My friend Bobby asked me one day, “Brian, why are the people in power assholes?” I thought this was a great question. I was honored

Cure Yourself Without Work!
From time to time, I get emails back from people who read this newsletter. Sometimes they say, “That’s a great idea, Rabbi Brian. I love

Fire:Heat :: Sky:Clouds
(I have written on this quote before. But it’s worth revisiting.) In my classroom on the wall, there is what seems at first like an

Are You Open to Vermiculite’s Mystery?
Vermiculite is the lightest rock on the planet. In fact, you can easily crush it; it feels like a chick of balsa wood. And because

Change your life by Brushing your teeth differently! (OK, a bit of hyperbole)
I have a somewhat strange spiritual-religious exercise for you. Doing (or not doing) it can offer learning in the following three areas: 1. Following direction

A Reason To Believe
Sören Kierkegaard wrote: Belief is not so much a conclusion, but a resolution…belief is not a form of knowledge, but a free act, an expression

Don’t Do “Door to Door Cruelty”
I like to ask door-to-door religious salespersons, “What percentage of people are rude to you?” The answer is always above 75%. I am told that

We Don’t Live Presently
One day, I was at the doctor’s office for a medical procedure. My daughter (age 3 at the time) happened to be with me, sitting
Forgive Them
Rabbi Brian using Jewish and Muslim law about suicide as a way of looking compassionately at those who wrong us.
Saving TIme
Rabbi Brian talks about the IRONY of trying to SAVE time… yikes!

Why We Don’t Have Time Off
Why don’t we ever have any free time? Want to know why you don’t have 10 minutes to set aside to do absolutely nothing? Probably

Lessons Taught Do Not Equal Lessons Learned
I was driving in Portland with my kids. As we slowed down, I saw a man standing on the street corner with a sign that