On a recent Saturday evening I attended an Ifthar break-the-fast dinner during the holiday of Ramadan, hosted by the Islamic community of San Ramon. As I entered the space, I was welcomed by my fellow elected council members of the I4C (the interfaith Council of Contra Costa County). An active member of that Muslim community, Maram, who sits on the elected council, introduced the events of the evening. We were regaled with Muslim, Jewish and Christian speakers describing their personal experience of fasting when participating in their own traditions and the meaning it holds for them.

As some of you probably know, I  recently traveled to Berlin, Germany. While there, I attended a Friday night Shabbat service at a place called the Neue Synagogue on Ouranienburger Strasse in the Mitte, or center neighborhood of Berlin. I’ve been a little obsessed with this building ever since.

We are saddened by the unexpected passing of Zerina Wolirsky and extend our deep condolences to her husband Paul, and to her entire family.

I’m pleased to be able to speak on ReproShabbat once again this year and during this week, along with clergy around the country, for parshat Mishpatim. 

While this subject of reproductive rights at this moment  can feel hopeless, troubling or intractable, there is valuable insight that we can gain from the history of Jewish thought on the topic, as well as thinking about  ways that we can contribute to the effort to secure and maintain these rights.

Every year Shabbat Shirah gives the cantor the opportunity to design a service that functions as a ‘Sermon in Song’, to teach about the rich and illustrious traditions of Jewish musical liturgical settings, chant and song.  

This year I felt a pull to focus my theme for Shabbat Shirah on women composers in the Jewish tradition.  I knew that we already draw on many of these composers for our Shabbat repertoire, but there are so many more in the Jewish music world, and so much great music!