Congregation Beth Mordecai
Congregation Beth Mordecai
An inclusive congregation affiliated with the Conservative Movement.
Your Jewish Home for the Soul!
An inclusive congregation affiliated with the Conservative Movement.
Your Jewish Home for the Soul!
August 24, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
(8/24/14),
Over the past two years, I've taken advantage of an opportunity to learn and connect with an impressive and diverse array of rabbis at a retreat for CLAL's Rabbis Without Borders program. At this past retreat, I had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know a very impressive rabbi -- Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger, an orthodox rabbi who lives in one of the settlements outside of Jerusalem and spends most of his time running a pluralist learning program he leads once a month in Northern Texas. We connected because of our mutual interest in Jewish perspectives on Christianity so we decided to continue our correspondence after the retreat as hevrutapartners to learn the New Testament together over[...]
Category : Israeli News Rabbi Rabbi's Journal Tag : Ali Abu Awaad CLAL israel israeli news Jewish Studies Initiative non-violence opportunity peace rabbi Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger rabbi's journal rabbis without borders reconciliation
February 6, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
Dear Hevreh,
The last time I wrote to you, I was on my way to a retreat for the purpose of "refresh[ing] my energy and creativity" with some "rabbinic 'soul food'" (DAY 582: Excited For Some Rabbinic "Soul Food"). Well, I'm happy to report that the retreat certainly delivered on its promise. Through talking, socializing, davening, learning, brainstorming, and relationship building, the retreat helped give me that sense of renewal I was looking for.
Each one of us has hopefully experienced a similar sense of renewal when we go away on retreats/trips/conferences and other similar opportunities. Certainly the setting of "getting away from it all" helps make experiences like these so powerful,[...]
Category : Rabbi Rabbi's Journal Tag : interfaith rabbi rabbi's journal rabbis without borders refresh retreat
February 2, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
Dear Hevreh,
I've often talked about the need to "recharge our batteries," the importance of making sure that we take the time to refresh ourselves and rejuvenate our spirits to be the professional/parent/spouse/friend/family member, etc. we want to be. I've often talked about this need in the context of spending Shabbat together because Shabbat is designed to be a natural refresher in the midst of our crazy weeks. It is a kind of "soul food" that feeds us when we need some spiritual nourishment.
However, if I'm truly honest with myself, Shabbat isn't as refreshing for me because...I'm often working during Shabbat :). Now don't get me wrong, I love spending Shabbat together. I find our "soul food" of davening, conversations, learning,[...]
Category : Rabbi Rabbi's Journal Tag : rabbi rabbi's journal rabbis without borders refresh retreat