One of the great Jewish debates is the proper way to light a menorah. Some insist you load the candles from right to left and light left to right. It seems simple enough. But is it my right, or is it from the other side of the menorah? And what happens if my shamash is all the way to one side? What do I do if I don't have any candles at all? What if I'm using wicks and oil?    There's no one way to light a menorah.   According to our sage Hillel, we add a light for each night and light the newest light first. Since Hebrew goes from right to left, it's only natural for the first night to be furthest to the right. That would be fine, except many Jews, especially Sephardic Jews, like our friends at Or v'Shalom, have customarily used oil for their Chanukah menorah. In that case, there's no way we can light each candle with the shamash. According to Sephardic custom, the shamash is lit last, and the newest light is lit first.    Too often, we get wrapped up in being exact in our rituals … [Read more...]

Yes, you read correctly. The meaning of Chanukah isn't found in the oil. The meaning of Chanukah is in what those lights stand for. Specifically, that a small band of determined Jews can thwart those who would persecute them. The miracle of Chanukah is that we are still here today. Our persecutors didn't stop when Judah Maccabee and the rest of the Hasmonean Jews pushed out the Assyrian Greeks from the Land of Israel in 2000+ years ago. We've survived and thrived despite the best efforts of Pharaohs, Caesars, Emperors, Sultans, Kings, Queens, Popes, Czars, and Fuhrers-the list goes on.   When we celebrate Chanukah, we make a powerful statement that we are proud to be Jewish. That's why the Chanukah lights are meant to be seen in the window of any Jewish home. The light that shines from the Chanukah menorah is for the world to see the joy we feel for being Jewish.  Join Rabbi Spike, Jessica, and me this Friday for an early congregational celebration of Chanukah. Join us for services at … [Read more...]

Satire is a key part of Jewish identity. Without the ability to laugh, I don't think the Jewish people would have survived to this day. Even as a rabbi, some of the best advice I received as a rabbinical student was to take the work seriously, but don't take yourself too seriously. I've tried to live by those words for the better part of a decade now. For better or for worse, as a professional Jew, I spend a lot of time immersed in the sacred and holy, and it is all too easy to live a life consumed by the seriousness that we use to approach much of Jewish life. Maybe that's why satire is necessary for Jewish identity-to cut through narcissism and ego like a knife through butter. In my opinion, no one does this better than the hit Israeli TV series, "The Jews are Coming." They imagine the ridiculous explanation Abraham gave to Isaac, and Ishmael right before their circumcision. They imagine what would have happened if one of the Israelites left their wallet in the sea after Moses led … [Read more...]

Not a joke. This Shabbat, we will be joined once again by Rabbi Micah Lapidus and his ensemble for the latest Southern Soul Shabbat. Even if you've been before, you might not know that one of the vocalists, Melvin Myles, is also a soloist at historic Ebenezer Baptist Church. Years ago, Rabbi Micah and Melvin struck up a friendship and have been making spiritually uplifting music and prayers drawn from faith and the shared roots of the south. If you've been to Southern Soul Shabbat before, then you know how these melodies and prayers will hit you right in the heart and soul. You'll be clapping your hands, stomping your feet, and will be disappointed when it's over too fast. When you join us this Friday night, you'll be praying the words of our ancestors set to all original melodies composed by Rabbi Micah. This Shabbat is a combination of the soul of the south with the words and wisdom of Judaism. This musical and spiritual treat only comes around a handful of times in the year. Don't … [Read more...]

The tradition of tossing bread (or something) into a body of living water on Tashlich dates to the 15th century in central and eastern Europe. The custom comes from an interpretation of a verse from the Prophet Micah, "God will take us back in love…[As] you hurl all our sins into the depts of the sea. (Micah 7:19)" Over time, this verse became the source for the custom of Tashlich: casting our sins away for a fresh new year. However, the custom has not always been to toss bread into the water for fish or birds to eat. For instance, the modern Israeli custom is to walk the shore for Tashlich, sometimes with outturned pockets. This Tashlich do not bring bread. Today, we know that feeding bread to birds and fish is not healthy for their diet. Like us, bread has little nutritional value, fills them up, and prevents them from eating the appropriate nutrients. That doesn't mean we should stop Tashlich. Instead, bring bird seed, fish food, bark from a tree, or pebbles from your home. … [Read more...]