“…That this Song May Be a Witness…” Like many Jews, I am a lover of words. I loved Hebrew, even when I didn’t “understand” a word of it. The sounds seemed to open up the place inside me that wanted to pour itself out to God. The sounds turned me inside-out in ways that made … Continue reading The Power of Chant →

What Is Hebrew Chant? Chanting is the melodic and rhythmic repetition of a Hebrew phrase drawn from our sacred text. It is a practice that allows for the exploration of the deeper levels of meaning and experience that lie beneath the surface of our religious lives. For many, chanting has become an important method of … Continue reading Chant as a Core Spiritual Practice →

Jonah On Yom Kippur we read about the reluctant prophet, Jonah. He is called on a Divine mission to warn the people of Nineveh and responds to this call by running in the opposite direction. Jonah’s journey traces our own circuitous pathway away from and back to our true nature and calling. Perhaps we read … Continue reading Yom Kippur 5763 (2002) →

Deuteronomy16:18-21:9 (Judges) Shoftim defines the status and function of Judges, the King, the Priests, and the Prophet in Israelite society. The people are commanded to set up Cities of Refuge where someone who has killed accidentally can find sanctuary. Click to see Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9 in Hebrew with the English JPS (1985) translation. THE BLESSING THE … Continue reading Shoftim →

Numbers33:1-36:13 (Journeys) Massei outlines the forty-two stops along the way on our wilderness journey. Click to see Numbers 33:1-36:13 in Hebrew with the English JPS (1985) translation. THE BLESSING SOMETIMES I THINK OF MY LIFE as one long interesting journey. Massei reminds me that every journey takes place in stages and each stage carries its … Continue reading Massei →