In This Moment: A Rabbi's Notebook

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Thanks for asking, Donald. Here are 52 reasons why three quarters of American Jews won't vote for you.
It’s not out of habit that Jews vote this way, nor is it knee-jerk wokeness. It’s because of the Jewish values embedded deep within our tradition. And…
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Rabbi Joshua Hammerman
In This Moment: A Rabbi's Notebook
A Mensch's guide to life - with a focus on how religion (especially but not exclusively Judaism) can help guide us through these challenging times.
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Rabbi Joshua Hammerman
Can Democracy Survive in '25?
When extremists use democratic means toward advancing their illiberal ends, democracy is at a severe disadvantage, making us all less safe and less…
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Rabbi Joshua Hammerman
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Since Trump keeps on attacking American Jews, here are 52 reasons, based on Jewish sources, why three quarters of American Jews won't vote…
 • Rabbi Joshua Hammerman
[UPDATED] Texas passes Bible-infused curriculum. Religion-state separation, long a simmering sideshow, is about to take center stage in the…
 • Rabbi Joshua Hammerman
20
New Year's Resolutions, Jewish Style
 • Rabbi Joshua Hammerman
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Rejecting Despair and Complacency
 • Rabbi Joshua Hammerman
7
Allow me to (re) introduce myself - and Substack - to my (new) (old) readers
 • Rabbi Joshua Hammerman
15
How should a Jew respond to ‘Merry Christmas’?
 • Rabbi Joshua Hammerman
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Recent posts

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New Year's Resolutions, Jewish Style
At a time when so many are leaving religion, we need to be reminded about what is beautiful and good about our traditions. In Judaism, it's all about…
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Rabbi Joshua Hammerman
8
Waging Peace and Esau's Kiss - A Christmas & Hanukkah Wish
A hopeful message during this week of holidays and hope. If Jacob and Esau could forge peace, then why not us? What we can learn from the Torah's "Dots…
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Rabbi Joshua Hammerman
11
Religion and America's Gambling Problem
Religious institutions have dropped the ball on sports betting. When it comes to being a check on society’s moral excesses, we should be relentless. We…
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Rabbi Joshua Hammerman
4
The Enemy is Certainty
As the film Conclave demonstrates, doubt is the foundation of true faith.
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Rabbi Joshua Hammerman
1
Hanukkah & Christmas: Perfectly Aligned for a Blended America
So many people are searching, and they take a little from each spiritual encounter. This moment of distinct but star-aligned festivals is the perfect…
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Rabbi Joshua Hammerman
“Total victory doesn’t actually mean anything here”
A young woman from Be'eri demonstrates that the last guardrails for democracy just might hold in Israel - and America too.
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Rabbi Joshua Hammerman
4
Rejecting Despair and Complacency
Heschel and King's words guide us on how we should deal with Assad's fall and Trump's rise.
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Rabbi Joshua Hammerman
7
The Double Arch is gone, but God's love is here to stay
When rocks themselves fall away, we need assurance that there is one constant amid the impermanence.
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Rabbi Joshua Hammerman
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