615 N. Broad St. Philadelphia, PA 19123 | 215.627.6747
615 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19123 | 215.627.6747
“Whose voice do we hear beckoning us to change? Is the shofar blast the sound of our own soul, the voice of our heart that we have sought to silence for so many years? Or is it the voice of angels whom God has sent to remind us that we already know what we have to do? Continue reading
As each of us considers our Jewish identity at this intense season of Jewish community, our DiveRSity group at Rodeph Shalom has been thinking about the diverse nature of our Jewish community and how we can help everyone to feel welcome at RS regardless of race, sexuality, and gender among other identities. We explored these issues this spring with our Philadelphia Museum of Jewish Art exhibit “Mis/Constructed Identities: Exploring Jewish Stereotypes.” Here’s another compelling approach: 10 Photos To Remind You That Jews Don’t Fit into a Stereotype (And Never Have).
We look forward to praying with you (High Holy Day service schedule). L’shanah tovah — Your RS Clergy
“The great shofar is sounded, and the still, small voice is heard.” We read in the Un’taneh Tokef prayer, one of the central prayers of our High Holy Day liturgy, Uv’shofar gadol yitaka, v’kol d’mamah dakah yishama. How do we pay attention to the both the loud and the silent in our lives? What is clamoring loudly for your attention and what is stirring silently within you? In this month of reflection, we attune our souls. We practice listening to the loud and the silent, and we prepare to heed both. (Please join us as we practice paying attention at weekly Friday 5pm Jewish Meditation, before our Shabbat service).
L’shanah tovah–Your RS Clergy
We are creatures of habit. “Most of the choices we make each day may feel like the products of well-considered decision making, but they’re not. They’re habits,” writes Charles Duhigg in The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and in Business (p. xv). In essence, our brains are lazy. Duhigg writes, “Left to its own devices, the brain will try to make almost any routine into a habit, because habits allow our minds to ramp down more often.” (p. 17-18)
But habits can be changed. Our brain’s lazy response can become our preferred one. During Elul we consider how we want to form new habits. What outcome do you “crave,” asks Duhigg? Find a new routine, he says, and you can achieve any outcome.
We look forward to praying together (service schedule). L’shanah tovah– Your RS Clergy
Lives were saved when school clerk Antoinette Tuff talked down a young man who showed up at McNair Discovery Learning Academy in Georgia armed with an AK-47 last Tuesday. Learn about Tuff’s experience in this interview. Witness Tuff’s extraordinary thought process and compassion on this 911 call. Just after Tuff convinced the gunman to surrender, she said, “It’s gonna be all right, sweetie,” she says. “I just want you to know that I love you, though, OK? And I’m proud of you. That’s a good thing. You’ve just given up. Don’t worry about it.”
As we enter the High Holy Day season, explore our purpose, uncover our courage, test our capacity to empathize and forgive and examine our faith, we have much to learn from Antoinette Tuff.
L’shanah tovah –Your RS Clergy
On Wed., Aug. 28, our nation will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the historic March On Washington for civil rights for African Americans. Over a quarter million people from around our country assembled at the Lincoln Memorial, as the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous “I Have A Dream” speech.
It is important for our congregation to take time to think about the importance of this event. This summer during our Erev Shabbat Services, we have been asking the question “What is relevant about Judaism in our daily lives?” I believe the March on Washington has a lot of relevance to Judaism, as there are certainly parallels between Judaism and the African-American story in our country. In fact, I believe Martin Luther King was the Moses of his day.Continue reading
The great shofar is sounded, and the still, small voice is heard. Uv’shofar gadol yitaka, v’kol d’mamah dakah yishama. What will rattle in you this year upon hearing the shofar sound? Will you ignore the rattle, or will you be awakened?
L’shanah tovah– Your RS Clergy
L’shanah tovah– Your RS Clergy
