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Exodus

On this Tuesday night, more than a hundred people have each ponied up fifteen bucks each to see the premiere of a one-man show I’ve created called **Religion Outside The Box**. I’m standing on a stage, a portable riser, in Temple Judea’s social hall. It’s 2001, eighteen months since my last day working here as …

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Attuned

Attuned      It’s a few weeks before Christmas.   Kim, my enthusiastic French horn teacher, has gathered all the Portland horn players she knows to play together in her garage.   In seven months, she will cajole me into joining the Rose City Pride Marching Band and I’ll debut at the Portland Pride parade …

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Hey, I love you.

It’s Saturday evening. Jane and the kids are out. I’m sitting contentedly on the tan Eames chair. Dinking around on my phone. I notice a desire to feel seen, appreciated, loved. I want to feel a meaningful connection. Instead of sitting with the desire—to see if it dissipates or getting into my head to puzzle …

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They/Them

I received the email below after I sent the newsletter about edamame beans and trying to choose being amused over being annoyed. I had included a new photo and revised bio with the newsletter.   ///     _Rabbi,_ _This is one of your best posts. It has a lot of beans and food for …

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Some notes about mourning.

MourningNotes

What follows is a compilation of things that I’ve picked up about mourning. I hope you find comfort. 💙rB • rabbi_brian@rotb.org   *** – Grief – *** Grief is the final stage of love.Grief is love with no place to go.   *** – Permission – *** Don’t worry about what you think you ought to …

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A letter to James, who had the same Buddhist teacher as me—Nagy.

A letter to James, who had the same Buddhist teacher as me—Nagy. Dear Brother,    You told me that a new friend of yours wanted to connect with Hebrew Israelites.   I found the group’s headquarters in Los Angeles.  4395 Leimert Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90008   They should be able to connect him with …

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Kosher For Passover

Passover is a week-long Jewish celebration starting on the 15th of Nisan—which in the Gregorian calendar can range from March 25-April 24. For 2023, it’s Tuesday April 4. Traditionally there is a communal meal—a seder—at the home, focusing on the theme of freedom. The iconic food of Passover is matzah—unleavened bread. Traditionally people refrain from …

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