Ritual – Page 3 – Rabbi Micah Streiffer

Between Holy and Ordinary (or “Why I Turn Off My Work Email on Shabbat”)

Once we were slaves. Now we are free. Shabbat is Zecher Liy’tziyat Mitzrayim – a reminder of our Exodus from slavery. On Shabbat, we are meant to embrace freedom, to throw off the shackles of the things that enslave us. As a Reform Jew, I take seriously the mitzvah of Shamor et Yom Hashabbat –ContinueContinue reading “Between Holy and Ordinary (or “Why I Turn Off My Work Email on Shabbat”)”

Kaddish for Jastrow

It was about a month ago that our dog Jastrow died. He was 3. He escaped from the yard and got hit by a car. Our kids were devastated. So were we. Jastrow’s name was the proof of my rabbi-nerdiness. (Only other rabbis realized that he was named for the Marcus Jastrow Dictionary of theContinueContinue reading “Kaddish for Jastrow”

Sukkot: Measuring the Years

Sukkot is the strangest holiday we have, and it has the strangest rituals. It’s one thing to sit around the table and eat and sing (like we do on every holiday). It’s quite another thing to build a shack in the back yard and wave around a bunch of plants in all directions. What’s thatContinueContinue reading “Sukkot: Measuring the Years”

Thoughts for Pesach 5770

Here are 2 readings I put together for this year’s seder. Feel free to use them at your own tables, or to pass them on. Chag Kasher V’sameach! Freedom and Slavery Avadim hayinu. Once we were slaves in Egypt Ata v’nei chorin. And the Eternal took us out of that place. With freedom comes responsibility.ContinueContinue reading “Thoughts for Pesach 5770”