It is commonplace to refer to Avraham as the first Jew or the first monotheist. Leaving behind the semantic and historical complications of the terms, a question arises out of Parashat Lekh Lekhah as to whether Avraham proselytized the people of his new homeland or not, and if he did so, how did he do so, and how frequently? And…
Every year, without fail, people always manage to say that whatever holiday in our calendar is either late or early. I relish the opportunity to say, "Rosh Hashanah is not early, October is late!" And it's true. The Gregorian calendar is an arbitrary construction measuring the Earth's relationship to the Sun with the goal of fixing Easter in its relationship…
The renewal of the Torah reading cycle is the most exciting time of the year for me. Not only because I think that Sefer Breishit, the Book of Genesis, is one of the greatest offerings of literature in the history of the world, but also because beginning the Torah immediately following the High Holy Day season of Rosh Hashanah, Yom…
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Back by popular demand. following is a reprint of the Kol Nidre appeal made by CBI President, Ali Climo. I recently watched a new film adaptation of E. M. Forster’s novel, Howards End, and one of the book and film’s most famous lines (indeed, the book’s epigraph) has been on my mind: Only Connect! "Only Connect!" carries several meanings.…
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Once, one of the wise men of Chelm asked their illustrious rabbi: Which is more important, rabbi, the sun or the moon? The rabbi responded: This is a very foolish question for such a wise man. The answer is self-evident, is it not? Clearly the moon is more important than the sun – it shines light at night when we…
I'll never forget my first day in Asheville. 1997, standing in the parking lot of the French Broad Food Co-op thinking, "I will live here one day." Throughout my years at Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies in L.A., I often thought of Asheville and CBI. Danielle and I were married in Montford. Our aufruf (when the groom is called to the Torah) was in the small CBI chapel. To be honest, I never envisioned being a pulpit rabbi - I love community organizing and non-profit management - but if there was one place I would want to be a pulpit rabbi, I knew it would be here. (read more)