Beyond the Bema
A look inside Judaism from a convert’s perspective.
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Bringing Tradition to Life Through Music Music is such a profound way to express oneself and a way to connect spiritually with community. Jewish tradition allows for song and prayer. Playing the bass guitar includes keeping time or adding warmth to the rest of your bandmates, but it also includes supporting emotions in a way…
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I’ve always wondered why G-d made me quiet. I will say, I’m more outgoing with my synagogue than I’ve ever been. But they would still say I’m quiet. I received this article from my very awesome Clergy member a while ago and wanted to point something’s out as I went back to reread it. “Silence…
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This week we, as a Jewish community, are facing the remembrance of the First and Second Temples that fell in our homeland. There are so many drashes on this subject, but my Rabbi left me with something to think about Friday night. He, in a nutshell, challenged the congregation to move forward with simplicity. And…
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Having surgery to remove part of your digestive tract isn’t for the faint of heart. I had been waiting a long time to have this procedure and the time came relatively fast. I am so happy with how things are progressing. I have been on a liquid diet since five days before my operation. Needless…
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It’s Pride Month, and every year I wear a shirt that says, “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.” It features a rainbow and captures what I believe Pride is truly about: acceptance. You don’t have to agree with me—just choose kindness. In Judaism, the concept of chesed—often translated as “loving-kindness”—goes far beyond…
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At Shavuot service Sunday evening, our Rabbi shared with us that for the next year we are going to embark on a journey learning about prayer. Now prayer is not for everyone, but to me, it’s everything. I prayed to a God in my time of stepping away from Christianity to the ten years of…
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I must be crazy to write about a Holiday that hasn’t happened, right? Especially since I’m observing my first one, right? No, I’ve been studying this one for quite sometime. Perhaps there will be a follow up. We’ll see. Shavuot is one of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals during which ancient Israelites would bring offerings to the…
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I sold my two road bikes a while back. Where I live doesn’t have the best infrastructure for road bikes. But, mountain bikes… that’s a different story. So, I did the thing a bought one. Nothing fancy, $150 off market place (worth $350). There is no need in me buying a top dollar bike as…
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I sat early morning as I could not sleep, reading what I have written thus far for my spiritual autobiography that will be used for my beit din and mikvah, and it doesn’t seem like enough. I have literally lined out my spiritual journey from the age of five, yet it is missing something. I…
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I was told today that the Talmud actually states that we are supposed to say 100 blessings a day. Moses tells the Jewish people: “What (mah) does God ask of you?”- Deuteronomy 10:12 The Talmud breaks it down further saying the word mah could be read as “me’ah”, which means 100. So they deduced that…
Beyond the Bema 