In This Moment: A Rabbi's Notebook

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December 2024

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
3
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
1
One More Item for Biden's To-Do List: Make Jan. 6 a National Fast Day
For years to come, the war of the narratives regarding Jan. 6 will be fought in the courtroom and classroom — but right now, the prime battlefield is…
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Rabbi Joshua Hammerman
How should a Jew respond to ‘Merry Christmas’?
When I speak with my Christian friends, I have no problem acknowledging their holiday in my seasonal salutations. Even awkward interactions can lead to…
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Rabbi Joshua Hammerman
5
Notes from the Frying Pan: The latke as the perfect symbol for this existential moment, from Debbie Friedman to Dostoyevsky - to Barbie
An existential crucible that slices and dices the soul while dreaming of a crispy salvation. In the frying pan, there is no cheap happiness – nor is…
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Rabbi Joshua Hammerman
1
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