mstreiffer

Elu V’Elu: Sometimes there’s more than one right answer

NOTE: This entry was cross-posted at Jewish Values Online. People often ask me questions like: What does Reform Judaism say about the afterlife? Do Reform Jews have to keep kosher? Are Reform Jews allowed to drive on Shabbat? In many cases, the answer to these questions is: “It depends.” Among the central values of ReformContinueContinue reading “Elu V’Elu: Sometimes there’s more than one right answer”

Al Tira – Do Not Be Afraid: A Sermon for Kol Nidre 5776

What are we all so afraid of? About 40 years ago, in the mid 1970s, a psychologist named Roger Hart did a study on the playing behaviours of children in a small town in Vermont. He documented their activities; he interviewed all 86 children in the town about the places where they played. And heContinueContinue reading “Al Tira – Do Not Be Afraid: A Sermon for Kol Nidre 5776”

Lessons of Auschwitz: A Sermon for Yom Kippur 5776

The Talmud tells about a great sage named Honi who once saw a young man planting a sapling. He sat in the heat of the sun and watched the man digging in the ground, placing the tiny tree into the hole, and surrounding it with earth. And then, Honi sat down in the shade andContinueContinue reading “Lessons of Auschwitz: A Sermon for Yom Kippur 5776”

The Toolkit: A Reflection for Rosh Hashanah 5776

Once, there were two builders – one wise and one foolish. They were on a journey to a jobsite in a faraway town, and each one carried his tool belt with him as they made their way. As night approached, the builders felt weary and stopped at an inn to sleep. Since they were afraidContinueContinue reading “The Toolkit: A Reflection for Rosh Hashanah 5776”