Rabbi Gordon’s Blog Page
Keep on moving forward
September 16, 2020 by Rabbi Debora S. Gordon • HHD 5781, Rabbi's Writings • 0 Comments
As we approach the new year, I invite you to take a deep breath, celebrate your survival, and go on.
RAP-ENTANCE
September 1, 2020 by Rabbi Debora S. Gordon • HHD 5781, Rabbi's Writings • Tags: High Holy Days, Hip-Hop, racism, self-reflection • 0 Comments
If your path to self-reflection trends more to hip-hop than high-holy, then you’ll want to know about RAP-ENTANCE by Rabbi Alex Kress.
Psalm 27 — Audrey Seidman reads Rabbi Yael Levy’s translation for 6 Elul 5780
August 25, 2020 by Rabbi Debora S. Gordon • HHD 5781, Rabbi's Writings • 0 Comments
Psalm 27 is traditionally added to the service during the month of Elul leading up to Rosh HaShanah. I’ve often asked myself why.
3 Elul 5780: T’kiah! Sh’varim! T’ruah! Splash!
August 22, 2020 by Rabbi Debora S. Gordon • HHD 5781, Rabbi's Writings, Uncategorized • 0 Comments
Thanks to Seth Liebson for sending me this great shofar call video! Today's winner of the Jewish internet Kudos to Mallory Palmer Posted by Adrian Durlester on Wednesday, August 19, 2020
2 Elul 5780: Gathering as community
August 21, 2020 by Rabbi Debora S. Gordon • HHD 5781, Rabbi's Writings, Uncategorized • 0 Comments
Community means something different these days. So does gathering. In person, we must take elaborate precautions (masks, distance, abundant air) to protect ourselves and the those with whom we gather from the possiblity of infecting each other. So most of our gatherings take place electronically — by phone, through an on-line forum like Facebook, or on […]
Rosh Chodesh Elul, 5780!
August 20, 2020 by Rabbi Debora S. Gordon • Holidays, Rabbi's Writings • Tags: COVID-19, Elul 5780, HHD 5781, shofar • 0 Comments
… And so, we begin. Elul is the month before Rosh HaShanah, a month of preparation so that our High Holy Days are as powerful, meaningful, and transformative as we need them to be. Most years you probably don’t even notice Elul. Most years, you mark Rosh HaShanah on your calendar, maybe plan a special […]
Do Not Stand Idly By
June 3, 2020 by Rabbi Debora S. Gordon • Rabbi's Writings • Tags: antiracism, BlackLivesMatter, tzedakah • 5 Comments
Jewish tradition teaches us Lo ta’amod al dam rey-echa, do not stand idly by while your neighbor is bleeding (Lev. 19:16). This is a sh’at d’chak, an urgent hour. We need to show up right now, as Jews, in support of justice and real equality for Black and Brown people. Some Jews are Black and Brown […]
Liberty and Safety
May 15, 2020 by Rabbi Debora S. Gordon • Rabbi's Writings • Tags: BlackLivesMatter, COVID-19, entitlement, freedom, Love your neighbor, music, politics of fear, racism, safety, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Torah verse, video, violence • 0 Comments
“Your personal liberty to swing your arm ends where my nose begins.”
Why it’s right that Reform summer camps aren’t opening this summer
May 7, 2020 by Rabbi Debora S. Gordon • Rabbi's Writings • Tags: 2020, COVID-19, Pikuach nefesh, Summer camp, Union for Reform Judaism • 1 Comment
I’m a rabbi in large part because of Reform summer camp. But pikuach nefesh, saving lives, outweighs all.
Morning Blessings for the New Year
September 18, 2020 by Rabbi Debora S. Gordon • HHD 5781, Prayer-Liturgy, Rabbi's Writings • Tags: High Holy Days, LGBTQIA, liturgy-prayer • 0 Comments
May 5781 be a year in which we build each other up, hold each other up, dress each other up, and expand the circle of safety, peace, justice, and love in our lives.
Blessed are You, FABULOUS ONE, Who loves each of us just as we are.