It’s on exactly one antique globe from the year 1510. Hic sunt dracones. Here there are dragons! Anyone who’s ever been fascinated by antiquarian paper maps may have also run across many sorts of magical beasts that adorned unexplored regions of the world. That uncertainty plays on our imagination and fears. We are both captivated and horrified at the prospect that we share this world with fearsome beasts larger and more powerful than ourselves.
Sometimes it’s hard to tell how much collective integrity we have. We hear stories all the time about corporations putting shareholders’ interests above customers and employees or about people in positions of power using that power to take advantage of others. On the other hand, more people are standing up for their rights and making their voices heard.
Recording from Shabbat Services, June 1-2, 2018. D'var from Friday, June 1, 2018 - Rabbi David Kosak
There are some days when I wake up completely unexcited about my familiar routine. I know, I know – it sounds strange to hear this coming from someone who thrives on routine. Nevertheless, sometimes I Just want to do something totally different. There are only so many ways I can make lunches, get kids dressed, get out the door, and follow through with any other daily duties before they all start to feel laboring and repetitive.
Recording from Shabbat Services, May 25-26, 2018 - Rabbi Eve Posen and Cantor Eyal Bitton
Last year, I had the opportunity to work with this fantastic young crew who were putting on a local branch of the Ramadan Tent Project. RTP as its called, originated in London. The premise is simple--for a couple of nights at the beginning of Ramadan, the community is invited to a break-the-fast gathering.
I’ll never forget the one and only time I made the mistake of not listening to my mother’s warning of “Say that again, and I’ll wash your mouth out with soap.” I had been practicing asserting my “maturity” in language by using certain curse words. I was asked repeatedly to stop and didn’t heed the warning.