Rabbi Nathan's blog

This month of May brings us fully into the rhythm of counting the omer ‐ a reminder of the importance of engaging in spiritual preparation to be able to receive the "Torah" (wisdom of our ancestors) you need to receive this year. My hope for all of us is that we use this month of preparation to draw from our rich spiritual tradition to weather the demands of this moment and to allow us to connect even more deeply to our Jewish identities as...Read more...

Friends, this month we embark in our Torah journey through the latter portions of Exodus that include a description of a leadership crisis engendered by the golden calf incident. Leadership challenges do not just show up now. A pattern emerges right after the exodus from Egypt: the people get in a tough spot (usually a lack of food or water on their journey), they complain bitterly to Moses, and Moses then needs to cobble together a solution,...Read more...

This past March I had the privilege of attending the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association convention held in Atlanta. At the tail end of the convention, I was able to join a smaller group of rabbis on a side trip to Montgomery, Alabama to learn more about the African American experience in our country, from enslavement to the Jim Crow era, and the fight for civil rights. Two particular moments from that experience stood out for...Read more...

As we enter into our post Holidays month of Heshvan, it is important to take a moment to share gratitude and thanks for all of the people who have helped make our holidays so meaningful and enriching. We thank those whose work may not often be seen ‐ those who shopped, moved chairs, dropped off Mahzorim, created materials, transported and put out food, cleaned up, made music, sang, read poetry and chanted Torah, got our Zoom and sound...Read more...

As we move into the Hebrew month of Elul, the month preceding our High Holy Days, may we each take in the message that turning toward wholeness in the world begins with turning toward wholeness in our hearts. May we each be strengthened in this work, held in each others' love and God's love to do this important work. And may our individual efforts toward wholeness contribute towards a larger wholeness in the world.