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The Empty Space
by Rabbi Misha
On Wednesday morning I joined the Shul’s Meditation Chevrutah for the weekly meditation.
Alive and Wrestling
by Rabbi Misha
I walk into a classroom at the Cobble Hill branch of our Hebrew school and find 9 eleven and twelve year olds singing Hineh Ma Tov.
The End Has Dawned
by Rabbi Misha
Before I say some words about the end times, I'd like to thank all the artists, technicians, designers, curators, activists, prayer leaders, producers and directors of the Kumah Festival.
The Politics of Antisemitism
by Rabbi Misha
Last year a 14-year-old student told me how a video that he posted on social media went viral. The reason: he was wearing his Jewish star necklace.
Grief Demands Company
by Rabbi Misha
This past Tuesday was Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. On Monday, The New Shul will join with dozens of other organizations to sponsor the Joint Israeli-Palestinian Memorial Day Ceremony, and on Tuesday we will celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israeli Independence Day.
Prayers From Rikers
by Rabbi Misha
“My son plays soccer right over there,” Shira told us as she drove us into the parking lot on route to Rikers Island. She parked the car, and our small delegation of rabbis and activists picked up our passes that will allow us to drive over the bridge and enter the jail.
Women's Torah
by Rabbi Misha
Some words from our Resident Scholar, Dr. Lizzie Berne DeGear.
Reclaiming Hidden Voices
by Rabbi Misha
"In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels."
Polyamory, Poligamy and other Forms of Insanity
by Rabbi Misha
Whenever I hear stories from my polyamorist friends I feel a combination of admiration, jealousy and gratitude.
Beautiful Demons
by Rabbi Misha
Purim conjures the best and worst memories. Ridiculous feasts, family gatherings, insane Jerusalem karaoke parties, drunken laughter, silly costume duos with friends, moments of the deepest honesty and most liberated dancing.
The Activating Heart
by Rabbi Misha
One of my teachers toward ordination was a Hasidic drummer who went by Reb Dovid. Studying Talmud with him, which I was lucky enough to do weekly for seven good years, was a careful text study of ideas in the form of a whirlwind of thought.
Beyond the Flags
by Rabbi Misha
Before I left my house last Sunday to participate in the weekly demonstration against the legal overhaul that would demolish the separation of powers in Israel, I debated what symbol or slogan to bring.
Transcending the Physical
by Rabbi Misha
Rabbi David of Lelov was frustrated. He had devoted his life to matters of spirit. He ignored the talk of the town, the news and gossip, and instead focused on eternal matters.
Kafka on Faith
by Rabbi Misha
“A man cannot live without a steady faith in something indestructible within him, though both the faith and the indestructible thing may remain permanently concealed from him. One of the forms of this concealment is the belief in a personal god.”
Our Whispering Past
by Rabbi Misha
“This is what human beings can do,” it whispers. “Be scared.” “Be brave.” “Be grateful.” “Be Jewish.” “Take words seriously.” “Care.” “Act.” “Remember.” Different whispers at different moments, different commands to different people.
