The Presence of an Absence
There is a dark side to Purim, that upside-down, downside-up festival of masks and laughter. To innoculate us in advance against the break-through of that dark side, the rabbis long […]
And There Was Morning: A Prayer for New Zealand
The day returns stubbornly no matter the massacre the night before. The sun spreads itself indiscriminately through storm-worn clouds as though the innocent worshippers were still body-bound, blinking open their […]
As We Pray
You come at us as we pray. We pray and place ourselves in front of the fear, We pray and place ourselves in front of the anger, We pray and […]
Buddhist-Inspired Rosh Hashanah Seder
Creation What would you feel if I told you that, in the Jewish tradition, you were being created anew in this very moment? Rosh Hashanah is the beginning of the year. […]
Birkot Hashakhar
I am thankful for this beautiful light which illuminated my soul! I am thankful for the divinity which makes up my very being. There is God within me, do not […]
Rise Like the Dawn: A Prayer for Action on the Rohingya Genocide
“Rabbi Asi said: Why was Esther likened to the dawn? It is to tell you: Just as the dawn is the conclusion of the entire night, so too, Esther was […]
The Secret of One and Many: Raza de-Purim
The Jews confirmed and accepted – kimu v’kiblu – we accepted, written singular, pronounced plural. Fulfilled and accepted – they fulfilled (on Purim) that which they had already accepted back […]
Threefold Blessing
Blessing When the upper root And the lower root find each other They meet at the inner point of truth. Yes, this is it The inner point of truth Will […]
Elijah Invented Sarcasm
Elijah invented sarcasm. Before stones and altar; before water flowed like blood; before hearts moved backward, and fire rained down to drench the waiting sacrifices – First there was sarcasm. […]
Revelation
“I revealed myself to those who didn’t ask for me” Isaiah 65:1 “I Posed in a Bikini in Times Square.” Anna O’Brien. Cosmopolitan. July 3, 2018. I can do […]
