Finding a Finkelstein: The Art...

Jul 23, 2019 by

Finding a Finkelstein: The Art of Learning to Pray

Isadore Finkelstein z”l taught me how to pray. I was a youth. He was ancient and timeless. My very best Shabbat mornings in synagogue...

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Psalm 27: My ‘Go To’ Spiritual...

Jun 11, 2019 by

Psalm 27: My ‘Go To’ Spiritual Walkabout Song

Author’s Note: This essay is dedicated to the memory of Angela Gold, z”l, whose neshama and harmonies blessed everyone she met. I...

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Blackboards in Pittsburgh

Dec 17, 2018 by

Blackboards in Pittsburgh

For two weeks before Shabbat Chanukah, four black boards with a question at the top and multi-colored chalk in the chalk trays were...

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A New Voice for Ancient Yearni...

Nov 16, 2018 by

A New Voice for Ancient Yearnings

As wildfires burned in California, hundreds of missiles rained down on Israel from Gaza. Fire on the ground and fire from the air,...

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“Gates” as an Endu...

Sep 6, 2018 by

“Gates” as an Enduring Metaphor

At Neilah, the closing service at the end of Yom Kippur, we imagine ourselves standing at the gates of heaven, urgently pleading for...

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Modern Voice, Ancient Yearning

Jul 17, 2018 by

Modern Voice, Ancient Yearning

Contemporary liturgy is a response to the call of the siddur and the call of our hearts. The siddur carries the weight of history,...

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A Prayer of Gratitude from URJ...

Dec 14, 2017 by

A Prayer of Gratitude from URJ Biennial 2017

Take a moment to be fully grateful for just one thing in your life. That little pause may be enough to change your outlook and your...

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The Relevance of Prayer in the...

Nov 14, 2017 by

The Relevance of Prayer in the Face of Tragedy

The morning after the Las Vegas Massacre, several identical posts appeared on Facebook, many from rabbis, declaring that ‘Prayer is...

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