My dad sat to my left. Next to him was the charismatic, theatrical Bruce Bierman, whom I last encountered when he was leading a deliciously off-the-wall queer Song of Songs seder earlier this year. Across the table was the wry Sara Felder, whom I saw two years ago doing a fantastic bit of juggling while…
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Jew in the Pew
Jew in the Pew
I was in a strange, new world: Egalitarian Sephardi Shabbat
An egalitarian Sephardi service is a rare thing, a complete novelty to me when I dropped in on the first installment of Congregation Zohar Yisrael, a new…
Jew in the Pew
Tashlich in spaaaaaaaacce!
They call it Tashlich in Space. The website puts it succinctly: “Reflect. Renew. Blastoff.” That’s right, this year you can (belatedly) send your sins up…
Jew in the Pew
A very Berkeley lulav and etrog
The lulav and the etrog. One week a year, we shake this magic rainstick and its citrus companion in the air. During the harvest festival of Sukkot, we…
Jew in the Pew
Connection and renewal at fire-damaged Chabad’s celebration of ‘unity’
After four years in the Bay Area, I finally know what lies at the end of the Dublin/Pleasanton line. As with most of the Earth’s extremities today,…
Jew in the Pew
At Karaite Convention, everything is the same — but different
“It’s like Judaism from an alternate universe,” said my friend Taeer. “So much is the same — but different.” I’ve witnessed a lot of different Judaisms,…
Jew in the Pew
Can psychedelics heal the Jewish people? This rabbi is exploring that question.
When the rabbi begins with “I do not condone the use of psychoactive substances regulated by the FDA,” you know you’re in for something special. Thus…
Jew in the Pew
Time to rethink everything you’ve been told about Jews and astrology
For most Jews, the entirety of Jewish belief about astrology is based on a single line in the Talmud: ein mazal l’Yisrael — there is no astrological sign…
Jew in the Pew
He’s on a quest to create a new Jewish holiday: a Day of Justice
Andrew Mandel believes that the Jewish people need another holiday. He calls it Yom HaTzedek — Day of Justice. Social justice is a big part of Judaism but…