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Rabbi on an Island: November 2012
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Rabbi on an Island. Thursday, November 29, 2012. Our Relevant Religion – Thoughts on the High Holy Days 5773. There is a tradition in Germany that is a bit difficult for both rabbis and cantors. On Yom Kippur, after months of preparation, comes the big moment: an awe-filled day full of prayers, songs and important theological ideas. Even though there are always some who attend the full day of services, the majority show up only for Yiskor – the memorial service on Yom Kippur afternoon. Liturgical songs) ...
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Rabbi on an Island: Rabbi’s Speech (English Version): Auschwitz Liberation Day
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Rabbi on an Island. Monday, January 27, 2014. Rabbi’s Speech (English Version): Auschwitz Liberation Day. Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany. January 27, 2014. It has become tradition on such occasions to chant a version of our memorial prayer, El Malei Rachamim, to the martyrs of the Shoah. All were subject to a type of de-humanization before the mass mobbing could take hold and inevitably lead to genocide. It has been 69 years since the liberation of the mere thousands that remained alive in Auschwitz, and E...
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Rabbi on an Island: January 2014
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Rabbi on an Island. Monday, January 27, 2014. Rabbi’s Speech (English Version): Auschwitz Liberation Day. Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany. January 27, 2014. It has become tradition on such occasions to chant a version of our memorial prayer, El Malei Rachamim, to the martyrs of the Shoah. All were subject to a type of de-humanization before the mass mobbing could take hold and inevitably lead to genocide. It has been 69 years since the liberation of the mere thousands that remained alive in Auschwitz, and E...
paulstrasko.blogspot.com
Rabbi on an Island: September 2013
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Rabbi on an Island. Wednesday, September 18, 2013. Sukkot Sermon, 5774. There is an old joke that I heard in Montana – perhaps a little too real to be funny – but that seems to often be the case with the jokes that are worth using in a sermon. A couple, recently married, are very much in love. They own an Ford pickup with those old bench seats that allow the two to sit arm and arm, shoulder to shoulder in the truck. As they drive by, all see the loving couple sitting next to each other and smile. The chi...
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Rabbi on an Island: February 2011
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Rabbi on an Island. Sunday, February 13, 2011. Parashat Terumah 5771 - English Version. Translated from the German - original version here. OK – perhaps all of these points aren’t really to be found in Torah. But there nonetheless seems to be a spark of truth behind the Beis Hollywood drama. We read in Parashat Terumah about the construction of the Ark of the Covenant—its material, its size and so forth, and then we come upon:. Wait a minute . . . isn’t this just a bit problematic? 8221; (Exodus 20:4)?
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Rabbi on an Island: November 2011
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Rabbi on an Island. Wednesday, November 30, 2011. Hi all: I posted my first effort at a french sermon on my other blog HERE. I will try to translate and post the english here in the next day or so. Subscribe to: Posts (Atom). Progressive Judaism in the German Speaking World. Sunset Films - my good friend DJ's site. Temple Beth Am in Seattle. FEEDJIT Live Traffic Feed. There was an error in this gadget. Simple template. Powered by Blogger.
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Rabbi on an Island: August 2010
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Rabbi on an Island. Sunday, August 08, 2010. Or bad BAD Paul). Now - why no other posting? Subscribe to: Posts (Atom). Or bad BAD Paul). Progressive Judaism in the German Speaking World. Sunset Films - my good friend DJ's site. Temple Beth Am in Seattle. FEEDJIT Live Traffic Feed. There was an error in this gadget. Simple template. Powered by Blogger.
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Rabbi on an Island: August 2013
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Rabbi on an Island. Friday, August 23, 2013. I love this story, as it brings needed insight into one of the more problematic passages in Torah. For starters, there is this strange image in Chapter 27 of Deuteronomy of the tribes of Israel dividing into two groups and ascending two mountains when they cross the river Jordon. Some tribes would stand on Mount Gerizim and the blessings in Ki Tavo would be pronounced on the people, and then the others would stand on Mount Ebal and the many curses would be read.
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Rabbi on an Island: June 2012
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Rabbi on an Island. Monday, June 11, 2012. Understanding the Jewish Year through Rain and Dew. There are moments in our liturgy that can pass so swiftly and easily that we barely give them a glance. One such moment passed recently during Pessach shacharit the morning after our Seder. During the Musaf we add a special prayer said once a year that is echoed in a similar prayer also said once a year after Sukkot. Rabbi Tovia ben Chorin said to his students during their first year of rabbinical school, ̶...
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Rabbi on an Island: October 2011
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Rabbi on an Island. Sunday, October 09, 2011. High Holy Day Sermon, Yom Kippur 2011/5772. I would like to offer two stories today – one true and one that is merely filled with truth. The first comes from one of my favorite chassidic. Tales and relates the story of a father with a rather simple son. During the High Holy Days, he would pray in the synagogue of the Baal Shem Tov, but never would bring his boy with him to pray. The boy had a flute that he would play while tending the flock. This was very dea...
