mstreiffer

Reform and Conservative Judaism… What’s the Difference?

Rabbi Noah Zvi Farkas has an interesting article in the New York Jewish Week entitled “The Re-founding of Conservative Judaism,” in which he argues that Conservative Judaism has outgrown its historical reasons for existence and needs a “re-founding” based on community organizing. He’s probably right. But as a Reform rabbi, it got me to thinkingContinueContinue reading “Reform and Conservative Judaism… What’s the Difference?”

Standing for the Rights of Women (and the Rest of Us) at the Wall

One month ago, a woman was arrested for wearing a tallit (prayer shawl) at the Western Wall. (Jerusalem Post article here.) It is illegal for women to pray as an organized group, to read Torah, or to wear a tallit at the Kotel, since these actions run counter to the sensibilities of certain sects ofContinueContinue reading “Standing for the Rights of Women (and the Rest of Us) at the Wall”

Mai Chanukah: A Text Study and Food for Thought

Just for fun, a text study with discussion questions on Talmud Shabbat 21b, the page of the Talmud that discusses the laws of Chanukah. Commentary by Rabbi Micah Streiffer (rabbistreiffer@templekolami.ca) Our Rabbis taught: The law of Chanukah requires that every each person should light one lamp for himself and his household. (Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 21b)ContinueContinue reading “Mai Chanukah: A Text Study and Food for Thought”

Don’t Blame Dinah! A Jewish Response to Domestic Abuse

(Below is my sermon delivered last Shabbat – Parashat Vayishlach 5770 – December 4, 2009) Vayishlach might be my favorite Torah portion… because of the wealth of important stories that are found here. Right here in one portion you have Jacob wrestling with the angel. It tells about the Patriarch’s name being changed to YisraelContinueContinue reading “Don’t Blame Dinah! A Jewish Response to Domestic Abuse”