Bar/Bat Mitzvah

Taking Responsibility

Here in our sanctuary, we don’t have open pits, and we don’t have hazardous oxen, but we do know some dangers are likely. It’s 100% guaranteed that there will be another earthquake in Seattle someday, for example. It is a known danger, but are we prepared? Mishpatim suggests we are responsible to make known hazards less dangerous. Like we should get prepared for if there was an earthquake during services.

By |2020-11-06T19:20:34-08:00February 22nd, 2020|Writing|0 Comments

Wrestling

Wrestling with God, life, ourselves, takes different forms— But whatever it’s pushing through, whether pain in football, pain over the death of someone we love, or pain over political differences, we are different afterwards…hopefully we are stronger, because we brought our best selves to the struggle.

By |2020-11-06T16:52:56-08:00December 17th, 2016|Writing|0 Comments

Sarah Laughed

Even though G-d confronts Sarah, she isn’t punished for laughing. Maybe her laughter made sure she got her baby. Maybe her laugh was like a dare, and the challenge made G-d really want to make good on the promise.

By |2020-11-06T15:20:05-08:00November 19th, 2016|Writing|0 Comments