fbpx

jfst

Obey

  In what used to be the sisters’ laundry building, I sit in a standard-issue, burgundy, vinyl, wingback chair. Marylhurst University’s conference center. Lake Oswego, Oregon. At the time, I am the only rabbi in the world teaching mathematics in a Catholic high school. Both non-teaching staff and us with more direct youth interface are […]

Obey Read More »

Unity. Not Binary.

Image: Leslie and Maryellen’s wedding. Me officiating. Los Angeles, CA. 1998. Unity. NonBinary.   *Jesse, calmer* Most of my millennial friend’s ever-present anxiety is notably absent as we sit in the clutter of their apartment.    I sit, cross legged on a bench, heart filled with delight to see my friend so beautifully mellow.   

Unity. Not Binary. Read More »

A Rabbi’s Apology

***A Rabbi’s Open Letter*** To those affected by the discovery of unmarked graves of First Nation’s children In Canada.I am Rabbi Brian Zachary Mayer. As a clergy person, I deem it part of my responsibility to the collective to apologize onbehalf of my fellow clergy when they fail to do so. Today I apologize on

A Rabbi’s Apology Read More »

Some Experience

Some. Experience. A certain type of experience I first remember having a certain type of experience in late 2007. Emmett is a wee-little one. Annie, not yet born. Jane and I are asleep in our bed. Sleeping as well as exhausted new parents sleep.  The baby monitor alerts us to Emmett’s stirring.  Jane nudges me,

Some Experience Read More »

Challah Limits

Challah Limits Phone in hand, I upload a photo of a three-braided round and a five-strand long that just came out of my oven. Confirmation—“The large one looks really complex”—comes with a photo of hers.  Coincidentally, this week, she, too, made a round and a long. Our Friday-night-challah-texting club started during the pandemic. “I experimented,”

Challah Limits Read More »

In the moment

Annie’s 14-year-old brother isn’t accompanying us on the trip to get Annie’s 12-year-old booster shot, so she’ll earn the front passenger’s seat automatically, without claiming it by saying, “Shotgun.” Our 2003 Odyssey’s bumper is attached with cable ties and flex tape. Jane says the minivan went from being ironic to an eye sore during COVID.

In the moment Read More »