In one of the stories included in the 1970s science fiction anthology “Wandering Stars”, creatures called Bulbas that look like, “brown pillows, all wrinkled and twisted, with some big gray spots on this side and on that side, and out of…

“Creating a World without Blemish” At the beginning of this week’s Torah portion, Chukat, we learn about a red heifer, that not only had to be completely red, but also without blemish, “she ein bah mum” (Numbers 19:2).  This was…

Many times in my career as a rabbi, I have been asked about the right way to do a particular Jewish ritual.  Whether it is lighting Shabbat candles on Shabbat, putting earth into a grave during a burial, or what…

There is a plaque right in front of the sanctuary of the synagogue I grew up in listing every single person who contributed to building that currently houses the community.  Built in the 1990s, the three-story building replaced the small…

Right from the moment I first met her, I could tell Cantor Susan Wehle, of blessed memory, was different.  She glowed with the light of goodness and love.  Her joy was contagious, as was her passion.  As a newcomer to…

A story I often tell kids at this time of year features twin brothers: Nachshon and Noshkan.  Nachshon is always early, racing off excitedly to any new venture.  Noshkan, on the other hand, takes his time, surveys the landscape before…

When I was a child, I always loved to walk around our house in the dark.  I would count the stairs and know exactly how navigate between the couch and chair to make it from my bedroom to the kitchen…

At the beginning of Disney’s Lion King, Mustafa takes his young cub Simba out to see the expanse of the kingdom he will one day inherit.  As they are looking out at the Sahara, Simba notices buzzards feasting a on…