The life-death continuum
January 11, 2017
Parashat Vayechi is an opportunity to meditate on the proximity of life and death.
Rabbi Anne Brener
Chanukah’s guiding lights
December 22, 2016
When I lie in bed on chilly mornings, waiting for the sun to rise, I think about what it might have been like with no artificial lights to extend the daylight and protect us from the darkness.
Consequences
November 30, 2016
Having buried Abraham and Sarah, the biblical narrative moves to the next generation: Isaac and his family. This week’s parsha is Toldot, which can mean “generations,” “begettings” or “consequences.”
Torah portion: Time for a change
September 8, 2015
As the moon of Elul dwindles to a sliver, just before the New Year of 5776, the words of Parshat Nitzavim regarding environmental disaster entwine my memories of a decade ago with my fears for the future.
Navigating grief’s wilderness: Parashat Bamidbar (Numbers 1:1-4:20)
May 21, 2015
“You must make yourself like a wilderness in order to receive the Torah” (Bamidbar Rabbah 19:26).
Torah portion: Embracing impermanence during Sukkot
October 7, 2014
When I was visiting Albuquerque, N.M., a number of years ago, a friend brought me to visit the nearby Native American community to observe the annual corn dance.
Crossing over: Parashat Ki Tavo (Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8)
August 22, 2013
“When you enter the land that YHVH, your God, is giving you as a heritage …” (Deuteronomy 26:1).
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