There is Nothing More Whole Than a Broken Heart
by Rabbi Nathan Kamesar I’ve found myself wrestling recently with the question of whether or not there is such a thing as a prototypical “Jewish sensibility.” The answer is: probably not. If, as the old joke goes, two Jews means three opinions, and since, if anything, Jewish tradition has always been grounded on preserving this […]
The True Origin Story of Hanukkah
by Rabbi Nathan Kamesar What a heavy week this has been. During this season in which we are so conscientious about fostering light in the midst of the cold, dark winter, there was the shooting at Brown University, resulting in the deaths of two students, with a suspect still at large; the apparent murder of […]
Tikkun Olam and Kabbalah
by Rabbi Nathan Kamesar I’d like to share with you the D’var Torah that I delivered at a recent Friday night TGIShabbat service, services which we hold every Friday from 6:00-7:15 pm, preceded by our 5:30 pm Shabbat Schmooze and followed by dinner at 7:15 pm — which you are always welcome and encouraged to […]
The Systematic Elimination of Daydreaming
by Rabbi Nathan Kamesar A phrase I encountered this week that momentarily stopped me in my tracks is that one of the biggest challenges we face as a society is the systematic elimination of daydreaming. I don’t know if all generations experience this, or if it is just those of us who have a close and […]
2AM, and the Rabbinical Students Stand in Their Bathrobes
by Rabbi Nathan Kamesar I’ve never considered myself a poetry guy, which is strange, because: I love music — a well-written song lyric can stick with me for years; Jewish tradition is filled with poetry, from the ancient psalms to the piyutim, the hymns in our prayer books; and even sermons, when done well, are meant […]