Category: Rabbi’s page
Dayeinu – or What is Enough?
| March 30, 2012 - ז ניסן תשעב | Posted by Rabbi Farbman under Rabbi's page |
Passover is a time for getting in touch with our past. We look back at the history of our people; we remind ourselves where we came from – not just in one or two generations, but the very humble beginnings of our people. We remember slavery and its bitterness. We remember divine liberation and freedom. We remember that freedom required extraordinary events such as the sea parting – and extraordinary commitment from our ancestors, who had to make steps into the unknown from which there was no way back… We remember the suffering of others, not just our joy –… more
Music to our ears…
| March 9, 2012 - טו אדר תשעב | Posted by Rabbi Farbman under Rabbi's page |
“The individual may pray in prose or even in wordless silence; a congregation must sing or disband.” Israel Abrahams, Poetry and Religion (1920) Music has always been a part of Judaism. From the Levites who sang the Psalms and played instruments on the steps leading to the Temple in Jerusalem, to the ancient system of cantillation, a special way to chant the Torah; from the melodic way of studying and memorizing rabbinic texts of Mishnah and Talmud to the Hassidic niggunim, often simple melodies that were credited with being as powerful as the most well composed prayers. There are numerous… more
The joys of Purim… Adar is here!
| February 23, 2012 - ל שבט תשעב | Posted by Rabbi Farbman under Featured, Main Page, Rabbi's page |
Mishenikhnas Adar, marbim b’simchah… From the moment the month of Adar begins, we increase the joy… This ancient rabbinic dictum reminds us that we are to celebrate Purim with much joy and happiness – not only on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar (when the festival occurs) but from the very beginning of the month! That’s wonderful news, right? For some reason, Purim seems to be a problem for many people. They view it as a festival for kids, something that takes place at a religious school if at all – kids dress up, maybe put together… more
The quiet months are over…
| February 1, 2012 - ח שבט תשעב | Posted by Rabbi Farbman under Featured, Rabbi's page |
‘Deep winter, still winter, but the days are visibly longer. The sun is visibly brighter. In the Land of Israel, it is still raining – but the rains are beginning to slacken. Already they have filled the deepest recesses of the earth. Far underground, the roots of trees are beginning to suck at earth’s replenished breasts. Their branches are beginning to grope toward the gathering light. There is barely any change to see; there is barely any change to hear. But the turn of the year has come. The still and quiet months are over; the seed is quickening, life… more
Dreaming of camp…
| January 22, 2012 - כז טבת תשעב | Posted by Rabbi Farbman under Rabbi's page |
Happy New year! May 2012 bring you all much joy and happiness – and a little fewer snow days than last year! Together with Lew Shaffer and Bruce Spiewak I have recently attended the Union for Reform Judaism biennial in Washington, DC. The program was absolutely terrific, as always – with multiple engaging sessions, services, music and camaraderie of some 6000 reform Jews from all over the United States, as well as Israel and the UK. For the first time in our movement’s history, President Obama addressed the gathering – and if you haven’t seen his address yourself, I strongly… more
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