From The Rabbi

Guest Post: “Constructing Sacred Boundaries: An Exploration of the Enclosure Around the Mishkan”

contemplative practice, D'vrei Torah, divrei Torah, From The Rabbi, guest posts

This guest post is the D’var Torah that CBI member and cantorial soloist Ziva Larson offered at Shabbat Morning Services on Saturday, February 25, 2023.

(Reproductive) Justice and the Dream of Sky: Mishpatim 5783 / 2023

divrei Torah, social action

"...Reproductive justice is a much broader framework than simply 'the right to choose,; or even the right to choose plus access to safe reliable healthcare. It’s about everything: access to food, affordable shelter, education, ending carceral foster care, ending gun violence, and more. All of these are part of what it would really look like to rear children in a just world...."

A Song For Those Coming Through the Sea

divrei Torah, Jewish values, tikkun olam

"..Our ancient spiritual ancestors couldn’t sing the Song until they felt emunah in their bones. And they couldn’t feel emunah in their bones until they stepped into the sea. Which means they had to step into the sea before they felt ready. They had to take the plunge without knowing for sure what lay ahead and whether or not the water would part. On a smaller scale, we all have moments like that, on the cusp of change: marriage or divorce, birth or death, choosing a new beginning. There’s a moment when we have to decide to just – step into the sea, ready or not...."

Stepping Stones Toward Spring — Tu B'Shvat (15 Shevat): First stirring; Purim (15 Adar): Unmasking spirit; Passover (15 Nissan): Throwing off shackles. Fall's Full Moon Harvest — Sukkot (15 Tishrei): Spiritual harvest.

From the Rabbi – February 2023

From The Rabbi, Newsletter, Tu BiShvat

This morning a friend texted me a graphic showing the five weeks before the winter solstice, and the five weeks thereafter. Along with the image came a short message that read, simply, “We made it!” The literal darkest season of the solar year is behind us: cause for rejoicing indeed.

The coldest weather of the year is ahead of us, but the days have already started imperceptibly getting longer. Especially during years like this one, when the winter solstice falls during Chanukah, it can feel a little bit like the increasing light of our candles has called back the increasing light of the sun. We’re nowhere near done with the cold, but we are done with the darkening of the days. From here until the end of June, every day brings more light.

From the Bottom of the Well (Vayeshev 5783 / 2022 )

divrei Torah, pandemic

From Dust to Stars: Vayishlach 5783

divrei Torah

From the Rabbi – December 2022

community, education, From The Rabbi, Inclusion & Diversity, Jewish values, Newsletter, social action, Teshuvah, video

This year, the b-mitzvah students and I are studying Jewish values. At the start of the school year we focused on teshuvah, repentance or return — the value at the heart of the Days of Awe. After that, we began a unit on b'tzelem Elohim: the idea that we are all made in the image of God.

December 2022 | Kislev 5783

Chanukah, From The President, Newsletter

In this season of gratitude, I want to thank all of you for being members of the CBI community and for all you do to strengthen and sustain our community. I also thank you for honoring me by re-electing me to my second one-year term as president at the recent Annual Meeting.

The moments in-between (Hayyei Sarah 5783)

divrei Torah, spiritual life

Be Like Avraham (Vayera 5783 / 2022)

divrei Torah

A small group of people walking on a beach at low tide.

From the Rabbi – November 2022

Cheshvan, From The Rabbi, Newsletter, spiritual life

November this year mostly overlaps with the Hebrew month of Cheshvan. Among Ashkenazi Jews (Jews of Eastern European descent or who follow the customs of that part of the world) this month contains no holidays other than Shabbat.

November 2022 | Cheshvan 5783

Annual Meeting, community, From The President, Newsletter

I have just returned from the General Assembly of the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), where 1,800 professionals and lay leaders met to discuss some of the critical issues facing our Jewish communities, locally and worldwide. I learned how people think about some of the significant issues facing us, whether we live in a smaller community, like the Berkshires, or a larger one. It was inspiring to meet with committed leaders from so many places.

From The Rabbi

Categories

Guest Post: “Constructing Sacred Boundaries: An Exploration of the Enclosure Around the Mishkan”

(Reproductive) Justice and the Dream of Sky: Mishpatim 5783 / 2023

A Song For Those Coming Through the Sea

From the Rabbi – February 2023

Opening Heart and Soul: Vaera 5783

The Promise of Becoming: Vayechi 5783 / 2022

From the Rabbi – January 2023

From the Bottom of the Well (Vayeshev 5783 / 2022 )

From Dust to Stars: Vayishlach 5783

From the Rabbi – December 2022

December 2022 | Kislev 5783

The moments in-between (Hayyei Sarah 5783)

Be Like Avraham (Vayera 5783 / 2022)

From the Rabbi – November 2022

November 2022 | Cheshvan 5783

Congregation Beth Israel

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