Daniel Hochman: The Divine Spark Our teachings tell us we are infused with a divine spark. This pinnacle of light connects us to G-d and to each other. When I celebrate the success of my friends, I share that happiness through this divine spark. When someone is grieving, I can reach out with empathy; and [...]
Beth Weinberg: Reflections on Yolanda Savage Narva ~~~ Editor's note: CLICK TO VIEW Yolanda Savage Narva's presentation on racial equality, diversity, and inclusion, from our June 20, 2021 Kenny Gaynes Memorial Sunday Morning Live. Savage Narva is the Director of Racial Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion at the Union for Reform Judaism. (She is also the aunt [...]
Rabbi Ira Youdovin: What Can be Expected from the New Israeli Government? Folks are asking how long will the new Israeli government hold together, and what might it accomplish? My answer to both questions is the same: I don’t know. And anybody claiming to know is fooling himself and/or trying to fool you. On the [...]
Cantor Mark Childs: Reflections on Reopening Just in time to end their school year, the students from our Netivot program came together yesterday morning en masse, in-person, masked, distanced and very happy (see photo below). I can’t overstate my feelings of joy, after a year plus of interacting via Zoom, over being physically together. My utmost wish [...]
Marcus James: My People, Place, & Purpose (Part 2) [CLICK HERE to read Part 1 of this series, Ed.] “Daddy, I have found my people, my place, and my purpose!” These were the words that drew me to Israel, which eventually led me on my own journey with Judaism. Upon returning from my third trip there, I set about locating the local Jewish community -the people. While [...]
My People, My Place, and My Purpose (Part 1) “Daddy, I have found my people, my place, and my purpose!” declared my eldest daughter Isabel (now Elisheva) over the phone from Israel. “I am not going to continue to Europe. I am staying.” I found my daughter’s declaration intriguing. What was it she meant? Israel has been in the news all my life, but [...]
Janet Malki: CBB Leadership Institute When I first was contacted by Jill Feldman and Ashley Goldstein to participate in the CBB Irving and Marlyn Berstein Leadership Institute (LI) via Zoom, I was hesitant for a variety of reasons. You know the excuses: time commitment, not being able to meet in person, concerns about future requests to [...]
CBB Voices blog highlighted at Shabbat services! We celebrated a special "blog post Shabbat" this past Friday, January 22. During the sermon portion of the service, Allan Morton, Judy Karin, and Phoebe Light (pictured here) read posts they've published on the CBB Voices blog. Editor Monica Steiner introduced the panel by describing this blog project [...]
Rabbi Steve Cohen: Reflections After the Capitol Hill Riot As we await the Inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden on January 20, I think that many of us…both Republicans and Democrats…. are asking the same basic question. Can we hope to create a civilized society here in the United States, with healthy, functioning institutions of local, [...]
Bryan Gindoff: A Silver Lining My wife, Verna, converted to Judaism this year and that has been hugely important to my own practice of Judaism. But Covid (with Zoom) is running a close second. A classic in the genre of every cloud having a silver lining. Covid has propelled us into celebrating online Shabbats with [...]