We remember that the plagues were not evil, not to be wished away: they were holy, iterative and equal in their parts of warning and divine retribution. They were a promise to the oppressed of redemption, of Exodus. They were safety. Within this context, we recognize that what we often quip are modern ‘plagues’…
Amazed I am always amazed that the ‘master race’ – with all its flannel bravado – seems to think that us queer folks are weak. As if we didn’t grow up in New York or Appalachia or Louisiana alongside you. As if we haven’t served in every war since humans began walking upright and…
If you try to call me at my office, you’ll immediately get a voicemail asking you to leave a message and telling you that I’ll call you back (and offering you hotline numbers to call if you’re in crisis). If you call me at home, you’ll soon find that, almost magically, my phone there…
This past week’s Mussar practice was to work on developing the Middah of Trust. For those who use Every Day, Holy Day: 365 Days of Teachings and Practices from the Jewish Tradition of Mussar as their daily text, our phrase this past week has been “I rest in the hands of my Maker,” and…
Blessed are You oh God! God of our fathers and mothers, God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, God of Sarah, God of Rebecca, God of Rachel, and God of Leah! God who wrestled with Jacob and was overcome by him, and so had it proclaimed “Jacob your name will no…
הכרת הטוב Recognizing the Good / Gratitude What are you feeling grateful for today? Have you noticed a difference in yourself through your gratitude practice? Have any blessings recently come your way in disguise? כבוד Honor What situations might be difficult for you to show honor to someone? How do those situations make you…
So from today’s Every Day, Holy Day: 365 Days of Teachings and Practices from the Jewish Tradition of Mussar (by Alan Morinis) we are given the following to ponder: “Once it has become clear to one that wherever he may be, he is standing before the presence of the Holy One, there will come to…
So in between everything that’s been going on, I have had the distinct privilege of beginning my Mussar journey. Simply put, Mussar is a 1,000 year old, Jewish, Post-Modern Social Work Practice (though I’m sure the sages and Rabbis that developed it didn’t necessarily put it into those words)…though as I have dived into…