Rabbi's Week in Review Blog

As our country and the world can’t seem to find a ceiling on crazy, it would be understandable to lean into the negative; to write about the next threat to our democracy, and the fear that is engendered by that threat.  Being cognizant of that tendency I want to make a conscious effort to at least work in a positive every other week.

 This past week we had our monthly time for study/praying/eating at the house.  For those who have not been able to attend regularly we have been studying “Why We Pray What We Pray.” The discussions have been and continue to be thought provoking, in-depth, fascinating explorations that include our sense of Jewish identity, our relationship with G-d, and our obligations in the world.

This past week a focus of our discussion was on where we find the balance between the particular -what is Jewish about what we do, and our relationship with G-d as Jews, in contrast to the universal-what obligations we have to and how we connect in relationship to communities not our own.  This is a question that, after one class in my Rodef Shalom-Pursuer of Peace course of study, it is clear that it will be a front and center piece of how to approach conflict resolution.

I see this as the tension between, what is special about being us without devolving into a place of Jewish exceptionalism.  Looking forward to exploring this further in our Kol Ami community, and using our continually new-gained knowledge to make our broader community and our world a better place.