Today is Day 12 of the Omer Counting, and in so many ways, it reflects powerful lessons that resonate with my own journey out of my gender closet, and indeed, all of the colonial closets that teach us to hide our true self so that we can conform with this world. In many ways, this … Continue reading Omer Day 12: the Torah of emerging from our colonial and intersectional closets
Tag: #decolonizejudaism
Ani Ma’amin: De-pathologizing our Faith in Redemption
As they walked into the gas chambers of the extermination camps, many Jews sang "Ani Ma'amin". The phrase "ani ma'amin" means "I believe", and the song contains words written by the great medieval rabbi, Maimonides, as part of his 13 articles of faith, of which this one relates to the faith in messianic redemption. To … Continue reading Ani Ma’amin: De-pathologizing our Faith in Redemption
Introducing The Light Seekers: New Monthly Jewish Spirituality Group
I am excited to announce a new monthly spirituality study and discussion group- for people thinking of joining the Jewish people, people who recently have and for people who are born Jewish but who are searching for new ways for it to be meaningful given their progressive critical thinking stance on life. I am calling … Continue reading Introducing The Light Seekers: New Monthly Jewish Spirituality Group
Decolonizing the Omer Counting: Day 5 Reflections on Healing
Today is day 5 of the Omer count as we seek to integrate the following two spiritual qualities: hod (humility) and hesed (loving-kindness or compassion). The theme of this week is to begin integrate "hesed" or Loving-Kindness into every aspect of ourselves and, in so doing, in the Universe. In this we understand the idea … Continue reading Decolonizing the Omer Counting: Day 5 Reflections on Healing
Passover Seder: 5784 Edition
Tonight, from across the world, we had folks from multiple continents joining our seder, some from their sofas and others streaming to a full room. Tonight was the two year anniversary of the birth of my virtual community, and so it was especially meaningful to me as I am finally begin to discern the direction … Continue reading Passover Seder: 5784 Edition
Preparing for Passover
Tomorrow night, Passover begins. The start of our liberation. May it be so: may we all be liberated from this world filled with so much woundedness and pain... May we embrace the freedom that is our destiny if we can choose to heal ourselves and those around us. I will be leading a virtual and … Continue reading Preparing for Passover
My six month prayer for healing
It has been six months since October 7th. Six months ago: everything changed. Our broken, traumatized/traumatizing and divisive world became even more terrifying and polarizing. We have turned on one another and on ourselves and against others in ways that are splitting and dissociative and lethal. Our hearts and souls have been crushed... our trauma … Continue reading My six month prayer for healing
Praying in the midst of an eclipse
The world has eclipse fever: even conspiracy theorists have gotten in on the fun! Next week, passing through the communities that I support in Kanata (Canada) and in Kentake (Kentucky), there will be a solar eclipse passing over Turtle Island (Mexico, USA, Canada). Much has been said about this phenomenon, with many believing that it … Continue reading Praying in the midst of an eclipse
The Shabbat Before Purim – Service
There were several people who requested a copy of the Shabbat evening service that I led on Friday night, therefore I am sharing it, along with my prayers for a truly joyful and blessed Purim for next year 5785/2025. https://videopress.com/v/4uTDEGDY?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true
The Shabbat Before Purim: Praying for tikkun/spiritual alchemy
Today is the lesser known Jewish holy day of Ta'anit Esther: the fast of Esther before the festival of Purim that celebrates the transformation of the threat of genocide into the moment of revelation as Queen Esther found the courage to speak out. But today, it became one of the most observed holidays of the … Continue reading The Shabbat Before Purim: Praying for tikkun/spiritual alchemy
New Years and New Beginnings
I often talk about how time itself is colonized. For Jews, it is the year 5784, not 2024. The words BC and AD correspond to the years of Jesus' birth and the Gregorian calendar is based upon Pope Gregory's understanding of time. Jews have been counting time for 5784 years. We also understand that time … Continue reading New Years and New Beginnings
My sermon at a Baptist church in Kentucky on how Hebrew Grammar can heal us all
I often talk about the deep theological teachings of Hebrew Grammar, as understood through the mystical teachings of Kabbalah. Hebrew, like many Indigenous languages, is verb-based and focuses upon relationship and fluidity in a way that English, as a noun-based language, is unable to convey. There is so much about Judaism's ancestral values and teachings … Continue reading My sermon at a Baptist church in Kentucky on how Hebrew Grammar can heal us all
My Article on Interfaith Marriage: A Blessing Waiting to Be Blessed
Due to popular request, I am resharing this article that I wrote. It was first published in 2009 and then again in 2013 in The Reform Advocate, which was the publication of the Society for Classical Reform Judaism, an organization which I helped to start in 2008, as part of my long-held advocacy for an … Continue reading My Article on Interfaith Marriage: A Blessing Waiting to Be Blessed
Our Evolving Understanding of G!d and Gender: A Video Lecture
I was deeply honored by the opportunity to present virtually last week on the topic "Our evolving understanding of G!d and Gender" as part of a six part educational series organized by Kolot Mayim Temple. This was an opportunity for me to share my own evolving understanding of these complex topics in light of Kabbalah … Continue reading Our Evolving Understanding of G!d and Gender: A Video Lecture
My Two-Eyed Prayer for Peace
This blog post reflects my ongoing prayer for peace, and my attempts to advocate for it. First, I want to explain (for all those who live south of the colonial border that divides Turtle Island/North America) some concepts about Truth and Reconciliation that are less well-known in the United States. Then I am sharing a … Continue reading My Two-Eyed Prayer for Peace
Exiting our conversionary closets: Speaking our Truth/Torah
A year ago, I was still stuck in my conversionary/colonial closet of gendered violence and oppression, trying to discern how to even want to live. Indeed, most of us who have been forced into a gender closet of transphobia have experienced severe trauma, leading to severe suffering... and it has taken my healing to be … Continue reading Exiting our conversionary closets: Speaking our Truth/Torah
Our Evolving Understanding of G!d and Gender: Reflections on the healing power of Joy
I am honored and grateful for to have been invited to speak at Kolot Mayim Reform Temple's Building Bridges virtual speaker series on the theme of L'dor V'dor: From Generation to Generation. I hope you will join me on Sunday, March 3rd at 3PM Atlantic (3:30 PM NFLD/2PM Eastern/11 AM Pacific Time), on "Our Evolving Understanding of G!d and Gender". I look forward … Continue reading Our Evolving Understanding of G!d and Gender: Reflections on the healing power of Joy
Healing our upside down world: Tu Bishvat Sabbath Prayer Service
Last Friday night, our growing Chavurah Collective gathered, some together over a potluck, with the services streaming over a crowded dinner table, while others, chilling comfortably with a glass of wine or a cup of tea, on their sofas or gathered at their computers and chatting with one another during the worship service... reveling in … Continue reading Healing our upside down world: Tu Bishvat Sabbath Prayer Service
A Blueprint for Healing: The Holiness of the Words we use and the Liberating/Decolonizing Questions we ask
This past Shabbat, Jews around the world began studying the biblical book of Exodus, by immersing ourselves in the Torah Portion (assigned biblical reading) of the week. The first section is called: Shemot, which literally means "names" and corresponds to the beginning of the story of Exodus, as the Children of Israel awaken to their … Continue reading A Blueprint for Healing: The Holiness of the Words we use and the Liberating/Decolonizing Questions we ask
The Light Seekers’ Shabbat and Hanukkah Prayer Service
Tonight, we gathered together, a community of Light Seekers (Darshei Ohr), a collection of communities and individuals... searching out the blessing of Shabbat and the promise of Hanukkah miracles. We prayed, in the decolonizing way of the Chavurah Collective, starting from the prayers for the dead (kaddish) and working our way to the kindling of … Continue reading The Light Seekers’ Shabbat and Hanukkah Prayer Service
Decolonizing Hanukkah Miracles
This year, the first night of Hanukkah is Thursday, December 7th. It is hard to keep track of when Jewish holidays fall, although they always begin at sundown. Why do they keep moving around is a common question that I receive. The answer is that they don't: Hanukkah always falls on the same day: the … Continue reading Decolonizing Hanukkah Miracles
Prayer for Peace
I was asked to speak at a ceasefire rally which is being held at the exact same time as I am also scheduled to meet with several members of government, along with doctors and community leaders and other interfaith representatives, to beg for mercy for all the human lives that are being killed at this … Continue reading Prayer for Peace
Upcoming Events: Services and Dialogue Group
Mark your calendars! I am excited about the growing number of people across Turtle Island, who are organizing Shabbat dinner gatherings to stream our innovative approach to Shabbat services in small communities (Chavurah/regional hubs). Therefore, due to poular request, a TIME CHANGE: starting in December, our services will begin 45 minutes later than previously advertised. Please use … Continue reading Upcoming Events: Services and Dialogue Group
Reform Judaism in Atlantic Canada has Grown into The Chavurah Collective
It is said in the Talmud that a rabbi should always have a job that is not being a rabbi, so that they do not compromise Torah for the sake of their livelihood. I am blessed to have an amazing job working as a social worker. I now get to be a rabbi "l'shem shmayim" … Continue reading Reform Judaism in Atlantic Canada has Grown into The Chavurah Collective
Love Letter to my Muslim “Brother from Another Mother”
Dear Dr. Babar, I want to thank you for your courage. Your courage inspires mine, and your speaking out inspires me to speak out. You and so many others of your Muslim brothers and sisters have courageously spoken out against members of your family who have highjacked your religion in the name of hate and … Continue reading Love Letter to my Muslim “Brother from Another Mother”
Praying for canaries in coal mines
This Shabbat, the Jewish world's sacred text was Noach (Genesis 6:9-11:32; Isaiah 54:1-10) which describes the story of Noah and the story of Babel. Noah built an ark to survive the great flood, and as soon as the earth was dry, he planted a vineyard, got drunk and engaged in incest. The moral of the … Continue reading Praying for canaries in coal mines
Praying our way back to Light
After a week of terror and horror, we gathered together seeking a few moments of breath and hope in the midst of the unfolding and unrelenting violence and senseless cruelty. We gathered in solidarity, from unceded Mi'kma'ki, with beautiful people from around the world who joined us... either from my former congregations (including the other … Continue reading Praying our way back to Light
Praying for a Shabbat of Peace, Healing and Hope
This Friday, due to popular request, I will be leading a special virtual healing service for comfort, hope and peace (October 13th, 6PM Atlantic (5PM Eastern/6:30 PM NFLD). Please email me for the zoom link. Services will be virtual, in English with some Hebrew which will be translated and transliterated. We will have a guided … Continue reading Praying for a Shabbat of Peace, Healing and Hope
Hatikvah (my hope): Decolonizing our Prayers for the Middle East
This blog is my answer to everyone who does not understand how I could possibly love Israel and support decolonization at the same time. It is also a crash course on decolonization for people who have mistakenly believed the colonial lie that one person's problems do not affect others, or who think that colonization is … Continue reading Hatikvah (my hope): Decolonizing our Prayers for the Middle East
Yom Kippur Afternoon and Neilah (closing) Prayer Services (5784/2023)
Given how many requests I have had for a video of the services that I lead for the community I started "Reform Judaism in Atlantic Canada: Decolonizing Judaism in Mi'kma'ki and Beyond", I have begun recording our services. I understand that not everyone is able to attend services at the time that they are held … Continue reading Yom Kippur Afternoon and Neilah (closing) Prayer Services (5784/2023)
Yom Kippur Yizkor (Memorial) Service (5784/2023)
Given how many requests I have had for a video of the services that I lead for the community I started "Reform Judaism in Atlantic Canada: Decolonizing Judaism in Mi'kma'ki and Beyond", I have begun recording our services. I understand that not everyone is able to attend services at the time that they are held … Continue reading Yom Kippur Yizkor (Memorial) Service (5784/2023)
Yom Kippur Morning Services (5784/2023)
Given how many requests I have had for a video of the services that I lead for the community I started "Reform Judaism in Atlantic Canada: Decolonizing Judaism in Mi'kma'ki and Beyond", I have begun recording our services. I understand that not everyone is able to attend services at the time that they are held … Continue reading Yom Kippur Morning Services (5784/2023)
Yom Kippur Kol Nidrei Evening Services
Given how many requests I have had for a video of the services that I lead for the community I started "Reform Judaism in Atlantic Canada: Decolonizing Judaism in Mi'kma'ki and Beyond", I have begun recording our services. I understand that not everyone is able to attend services at the time that they are held … Continue reading Yom Kippur Kol Nidrei Evening Services
Erev Yom Kippur: Kol Nidrei
Abiding gratitude to all who requested a copy of tonight's service and to all who sent so many lovely notes of appreciation for the Rosh Hashanah morning service. Given how many requests I have received from folks who had family obligations and were unable to attend, I recorded tonight's service. I am therefore posting for … Continue reading Erev Yom Kippur: Kol Nidrei
Lessons from my closet for the Days of Awe
This blog begins with an apology to those who subscribe and got emails with earlier versions that did not say what I meant to say. Apologies for yet another repeat- this is yet another updated version of an unfinished Torah that keeps continuing to evolve as I keep discarding old understandings that I slowly understand … Continue reading Lessons from my closet for the Days of Awe
Rosh Hashanah Morning Services
With today's hurricane and power outages impacting so many, and in response to the many requests for recordings I have gotten (not just for today, but in general- sometimes people are working when services are held or otherwise unable to join but yearning for Shabbat services on their own schedule), I am uploading this morning's … Continue reading Rosh Hashanah Morning Services
Emerging Torah as Rabbi Nachshon emerges 