Remember you were a slave…
It is only on the condition that we remember that we have been given all of the blessings that come with freedom. Let us use that freedom, then, to work for the blessings of freedom for all peoples.
Passover Greetings
March 29, 2018 13 Nisan 5778 Dear Friends, Tomorrow evening, all around the world, Jews and their families and friends will gather together to participate in a ritual that goes back thousands of years. As we dip parsley into salt water, we will think not only of the tears that our ancestors shed during their [...]
Rabbi Zari’s Sermon erev Rosh Hashanah
Dvar Torah: Erev Rosh HaShanah Singing and Working and Fighting for our Lives Rabbi Zari M. Weiss Wed., September 20, 2017 1 Tishri 5578 One image has stayed with me from this summer: a group of clergy—rabbis, ministers, a Muslim woman leader, a Buddhist priest, and others—marching, arm-in-arm, down the streets of Seattle under [...]
Rabbi’s Blog for Parashat Ki Tetzei
Dvar Torah Parashat Ki Tetzei Friday evening, September 1, 2017 11 Elul 5777 Shabbat Shalom. Oh my. What challenging times we are living through these days, aren't we? There is so much happening, so much coming at us every week: the chaos in our national government, the rise in anti-Semitism and Islamaphobia, hate speech and [...]
Rabbi Blog Post for June 30, 2017
Rabbi's Blog Responding to Pressing Issues of the Day
Rabbi’s invitation to the KHN Shabbaton April 21 and 22
Shabbaton Readings are now available
Rabbi Zari’s Passover message
Dear Friends, This year, Passover offers a particularly poignant opportunity to think about the many millions of people throughout the world who searching for safety and security, because they are fleeing oppressive regimes, violence, or looking for freedom from the crushing burden of poverty and hopelessness. There are many excellent resources that can supplement the [...]
Parashat Vayera
The origin of the idea that Abraham and Sarah were so welcoming of guests actually comes from this week’s Torah portion, Vayera. The portion begins, “And the Eternal appeared to him [Abraham] in the plains of Mamre; and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day. And he lifted up his eyes and looked and lo, three men stood by him; and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground.”
Rabbi Zari’s 5777 Kol Nidre Dvar: For the Sins we have Committed
rabbi-zaris-5777-kol-nidre-dvar-for-the-sins-we-have-committed Yom Kippur Dvar For the sins that we have committed: Collective Responsibility Kol Nidre Rabbi Zari M. Weiss October 11, 2016 10 Tishri 5777 I did not know. I did not know the people whom we refer to as Black or African American could not get legitimate mortgages in this country until as recently [...]
Rabbi Zari’s erev Rosh Hashanah d’var
“Holding it all” Erev Rosh HaShanah October 2, 2016 1 Tishri 5777 Rabbi Zari Weiss It was the end of a long day. I was unwinding by, I am embarrassed to admit—watching cute animal videos on YouTube. Actually, I was watching videos of human beings rescuing animals in all kinds of circumstances: a horse trapped [...]