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Holding It Together

Rosh Hashanah 5779 / 11 September 2018

[Sing Aly Halpert’s “Loosen” (A part) as a niggun] I’ve been thinking a lot about the Hineni, prayer. It’s the opening personal prayer of the Shaliach Tzibbur- the community’s agent in prayer- that offers a glimpse into her motivation and desires to be an effective representative of the assembled worshippers. It says that, despite my… Read More

Posted: September 13, 2018 by

Recovering Ourselves

Rosh Hashanah 5779 / 10 September 2018

Some of you had a chance to know my dad, Murray Friedman ע”ה, who passed away during Pesah, or may have heard stories while I was sitting shiva. He was the paradigmatic elder, a storyteller and a quiet well of wisdom at the heart of the family. In his retirement, he devoted the last twenty-five years to… Read More

Posted: September 12, 2018 by

Facing Change

Ki Tetze 5778 / 25 August 2018

I am fascinated by parashat Ki Tetze, in part because I’m never quite sure what to make of it. The book of Devarim opens with Moses’ recap of earlier events, with some interesting twists of hindsight, before shifting into his moral guidance for Israelites about to launch their own society – without his help. It will… Read More

Posted: August 28, 2018 by

BZBI to “Adopt” a Family through HIAS Pennsylvania

We have exciting news to share with you! BZBI’s Tikkun Olam Network has formed a partnership with Society Hill Synagogue to “adopt” a refugee family through the HIAS Pennsylvania community support program. HIAS Pennsylvania (formerly the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, now a non-denominational resettlement agency) matches refugees with volunteers who can provide a year of… Read More

Posted: August 27, 2018 by

Considering Sacred Spaces

R'eih 5778 / 11 August 2018

Parashat Re’eh begins with the conclusion of the long farewell that Moses addressed to the Israelites as he prepared to leave them and they prepared to cross the Jordan into the Land of Canaan.  “I set before you today a blessing and a curse” Moses tells the people:  “the blessing if you obey the commandments… Read More

Posted: August 15, 2018 by
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