Life ReflectionsSpiritual Authority in a Participatory Congregation
Submitted by Rabbi Menachem Creditor [Berkeley, CA] on Sun, May 18, 2008
In a world of individual empowerment, what is the place for authority? Is there one? Should there be? Inherited faith traditions locate the source of religious authority in text, the heavens, or a religious leader. Something tangible and limited. That is likely not the way our communities views themselves (though implicit explorations of our internal senses of 'authority' do take place when new religious leadership is sought, or when potential controversial shifts are raised). read more »
Rabbi Menachem Creditor is rabbi of Congregation Netivot Shalom in Berkeley, CA. He is also founder of ShefaNetwork: (The Conservative Movement Dreaming from Within), co-founder of KeshetRabbis (The Alliance of Gay-Friendly Conservative and Masorti Rabbis), and author of TheTisch, an electronic commentary on Jewish Spirituality. He is a popular speaker at synagogues, college campuses, and various communities on questions of Jewish Identity, Leadership, and Spirituality. As one half of Shirav, a Jewish folk-music group, he has spread passion, comfort, and joy to audiences around North America and Israel.
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Kisses and Memory
Submitted by Rabbi Menachem Creditor [Berkeley, CA] on Sun, May 18, 2008
Yom HaShoah VeHagevurah 5768: "Kisses and Memory" There are days in which the simplest things carry incalculable meaning. Today is one such day. Yom HaShoah VeHagevurah, our Day of Holocaust and Heroism, amplifies every experience of life to a heightened place. A smile, an embrace, a bright butterfly. Each evokes, for those attuned to the holy moment, devastating heartbreak and deep hope. read more »
Rabbi Menachem Creditor is rabbi of Congregation Netivot Shalom in Berkeley, CA. He is also founder of ShefaNetwork: (The Conservative Movement Dreaming from Within), co-founder of KeshetRabbis (The Alliance of Gay-Friendly Conservative and Masorti Rabbis), and author of TheTisch, an electronic commentary on Jewish Spirituality. He is a popular speaker at synagogues, college campuses, and various communities on questions of Jewish Identity, Leadership, and Spirituality. As one half of Shirav, a Jewish folk-music group, he has spread passion, comfort, and joy to audiences around North America and Israel.
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What is it about Bedtime?
Submitted by Rabbi Menachem Creditor [Berkeley, CA] on Mon, Mar 31, 2008
Rabbi Menachem Creditor What is it about bedtime? On the one hand it's an in-between moment: Daylight is fading, eyelids are drooping - a gentle goodnight seems natural. On the other hand, there is the "simple task" of getting a child to bed, tucking them in, and finally going to take care of "grown-up stuff." How difficult it is to preserve this escapable sacred experience. read more »
Rabbi Menachem Creditor is rabbi of Congregation Netivot Shalom in Berkeley, CA. He is also founder of ShefaNetwork: (The Conservative Movement Dreaming from Within), co-founder of KeshetRabbis (The Alliance of Gay-Friendly Conservative and Masorti Rabbis), and author of TheTisch, an electronic commentary on Jewish Spirituality. He is a popular speaker at synagogues, college campuses, and various communities on questions of Jewish Identity, Leadership, and Spirituality. As one half of Shirav, a Jewish folk-music group, he has spread passion, comfort, and joy to audiences around North America and Israel.
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What Does it Mean?
Submitted by Rabbi Menachem Creditor [Berkeley, CA] on Tue, Mar 11, 2008
Rabbi Menachem Creditor in memory of Scott Silberman, z"l In Dara Horn's work of spiritual fiction "The World to Come", she portrays Marc Chagall and the enigmatic Yiddish poet Der Nister (The Hidden One) as teachers at a Ukranian school for Jewish orphans. Der Nister sees a blue painting Chagall has just completed and asks "What does it mean?" Chagall's response is mystifying: "It means blue." read more »
Rabbi Menachem Creditor is rabbi of Congregation Netivot Shalom in Berkeley, CA. He is also founder of ShefaNetwork: (The Conservative Movement Dreaming from Within), co-founder of KeshetRabbis (The Alliance of Gay-Friendly Conservative and Masorti Rabbis), and author of TheTisch, an electronic commentary on Jewish Spirituality. He is a popular speaker at synagogues, college campuses, and various communities on questions of Jewish Identity, Leadership, and Spirituality. As one half of Shirav, a Jewish folk-music group, he has spread passion, comfort, and joy to audiences around North America and Israel.
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One Rabbi's Reflection
Submitted by Rabbi Menachem Creditor [Berkeley, CA] on Wed, Jan 23, 2008
Rabbi's Reflection I love being a rabbi. read more »
Rabbi Menachem Creditor is rabbi of Congregation Netivot Shalom in Berkeley, CA. He is also founder of ShefaNetwork: (The Conservative Movement Dreaming from Within), co-founder of KeshetRabbis (The Alliance of Gay-Friendly Conservative and Masorti Rabbis), and author of TheTisch, an electronic commentary on Jewish Spirituality. He is a popular speaker at synagogues, college campuses, and various communities on questions of Jewish Identity, Leadership, and Spirituality. As one half of Shirav, a Jewish folk-music group, he has spread passion, comfort, and joy to audiences around North America and Israel.
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My God Doesn't Take
Submitted by Rabbi Menachem Creditor [Berkeley, CA] on Wed, Oct 24, 2007
Rabbi Menachem Creditor I cringe every time I recite "The Lord gives, the Lord takes, blessed be the Name of God," in the Book of Job. And I recite it often, at funerals and in mourning rituals. When my mentor Rabbi Neil Gillman challenged a class of almost-rabbis to translate the Hebrew phrase "Baruch Dayan Emet" roughly "Blessed is the True Judge", also a traditional response to hearing of a death) I refused. I don't mean it. I won't mean it. But I do say it. I recite both formulae, gritting my teeth every time, at funerals and other moments of mourning. read more »
Rabbi Menachem Creditor is rabbi of Congregation Netivot Shalom in Berkeley, CA. He is also founder of ShefaNetwork: (The Conservative Movement Dreaming from Within), co-founder of KeshetRabbis (The Alliance of Gay-Friendly Conservative and Masorti Rabbis), and author of TheTisch, an electronic commentary on Jewish Spirituality. He is a popular speaker at synagogues, college campuses, and various communities on questions of Jewish Identity, Leadership, and Spirituality. As one half of Shirav, a Jewish folk-music group, he has spread passion, comfort, and joy to audiences around North America and Israel.
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Welcoming Visitors in the Synagogue
Submitted by Al Kustanowitz [Fair Lawn, NJ] on Sat, Oct 6, 2007
This Sukkot, we had the honor of hosting a relative who happens to be an esteemed rabbi and scholar. On the first day he wanted to get to shul at the start of services, a goal that I strongly support but don’t often achieve. So I sent him off, with etrog and lulav in hand, and a plan to connect a bit (maybe more than a bit) later. read more »
Al Kustanowitz is a marketing consultant in the computer and publishing industries. He is the Aba of three extremely talented children and the Saba of a brilliant (and cute) grandson.
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Writing Your Own Torah - On Your Wedding Day and Every Day
Submitted by Al Kustanowitz [Fair Lawn, NJ] on Tue, Oct 2, 2007
One of the 613 mitzvot, in fact the last of the 613, is that every Jew should write a copy of the Torah. It is derived from the passage in Parshat Vayelech that says “V’atem kitvu lachem et hashira hazot” – “So now, write this song for yourselves.” Our sages derive from this verse that every Jew is commanded to write a Torah scroll. A more contemporary interpretation is that this mitzvah can be fulfilled by buying a copy of the Torah. With the wide availability today of the Chumash in many versions, this is a very easy mitzvah to perform. read more »
Al Kustanowitz is a marketing consultant in the computer and publishing industries. He is the Aba of three extremely talented children and the Saba of a brilliant (and cute) grandson.
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What is on your Jewish to-do-list
Submitted by Jonathan Ginsburg [Skokie,Il.] on Wed, Sep 26, 2007
To Do Lists
Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg, Rabbi of the Ezra-Habonim, Niles Township Jewish Congregation of Skokie, is a native of Chicago. Rabbi Ginsburg received his B.A. in religion from the University of Chicago where he was the valedictory orator and received his Masters and Rabbinic Ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary where he received the Krasne Award for outstanding student. He was a National Merit scholar and 1974 National High School Debate Champion. Rabbi Ginsburg, before returning to Chicago, he was the senior Rabbi at the Temple of Aaron, a 1400-family Conservative synagogue for 17 years, and adjunct faculty of St. Catherine College and Metropolitan University. Prior to that, he served as senior Rabbi at the Kane street Synagogue in Brooklyn for 5 years. He is now President of the Niles Township Clergy Association.
His websites and blogs
www.jonathanginsburg.net
www.jewishconversionchicago.co m
www.rabbireflects.blogspot.com
www.ehnt.org
www.jewishconversionchicago.co m/blog.html
He has produced 250 videos of Jewish content on Youtube and yahoo videos.
Developed cybersynagogue at www.esynagogue.org
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Cubs game? No, a wake.
Submitted by Jonathan Ginsburg [Skokie,Il.] on Wed, Sep 26, 2007
Cubs? No-Wake Life is short. Enjoy and live holy Posted by Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg
Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg, Rabbi of the Ezra-Habonim, Niles Township Jewish Congregation of Skokie, is a native of Chicago. Rabbi Ginsburg received his B.A. in religion from the University of Chicago where he was the valedictory orator and received his Masters and Rabbinic Ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary where he received the Krasne Award for outstanding student. He was a National Merit scholar and 1974 National High School Debate Champion. Rabbi Ginsburg, before returning to Chicago, he was the senior Rabbi at the Temple of Aaron, a 1400-family Conservative synagogue for 17 years, and adjunct faculty of St. Catherine College and Metropolitan University. Prior to that, he served as senior Rabbi at the Kane street Synagogue in Brooklyn for 5 years. He is now President of the Niles Township Clergy Association.
His websites and blogs
www.jonathanginsburg.net
www.jewishconversionchicago.co m
www.rabbireflects.blogspot.com
www.ehnt.org
www.jewishconversionchicago.co m/blog.html
He has produced 250 videos of Jewish content on Youtube and yahoo videos.
Developed cybersynagogue at www.esynagogue.org
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