I have heard the statement, “God is everything or God is nothing” many times, and this week in reading the story of Moshe, I finally got an explanation that felt satisfying. Most of my life, I understood it as meaning God is omnipotent, all powerful, all being, and the truth. So, if it’s black or…

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I have the privilege of being back in Israel, and while most people were celebrating the new year with smiles and partying, at midnight on New Year’s the city of Tel Aviv received a barrage of missiles. This is the tragic current reality for my brothers and sisters in Israel. Yesterday, I went to a…

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How do we explain to our children what is going on in the world without causing them permanent scars? What is appropriate to share and what isn’t, and how do we strengthen them to help them see their own power? I just read a story by the great rabbi Jonathan Sacks which helped me see…

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I spoke about my experience in Israel last week, yet that was before the miracle I witnessed Friday night and witnessing the incredible gift that technology is. On Friday night as I was praying at the Western Wall, the sirens went off, suggesting a rocket was on the way. People started running for safety and…

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I’m in Israel this week, and yesterday I had the privilege of going to the hospital to visit with some of the injured soldiers and their families. I’m blown away by several of the experiences I had yesterday and I will carry them in my heart forever. The first thing that struck me was the…

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How do we forgive when the pain is so great? Is forgiveness even appropriate, and is forgiveness even ours to give when the perpetrators have hurt so many others? I have the privilege of working with people who have suffered, people who are truly innocent victims who have suffered harm for no good reason other…

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If something is wrong, then not only must I not do it, I must—if I can—stop others from doing it. If I fail to do so, then I share in the guilt. Nowadays, we would call this the guilt of the bystanders. It is obvious to me that the perpetrators are far more guilty than…

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In a world full of deceit, uncertainty, goals which we believe will make us happy yet don’t, opinions, political and religious views and divides, pain and suffering, he said and she said, and ultimately a complete lack of clarity, how do we decipher what’s right and how do we find our way? I’m reminded of…

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I’ve always wondered how people can think it’s okay—or even worse, warranted—to kill in the name of God or religion. My teacher, Ted told me recently that most humans, even if faced with being killed, won’t kill another unless their DNA is challenged, which I believe means unless their children, siblings, or other family is…

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When a tragedy happens, it’s common to get depressed, get down, and focus on all the problems. Very often, tragedy, illness, and financial problems can lead to divorce, or alternatively, they can lead to a renewed strength in the relationship.   Additionally, we can see from all those who have suffered a collective tragedy like…

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