Category: Featured
A Unique Perspective on Hate-Crimes: The Story of a Convicted Killer
Following my recent article on “Islamophobia, Sikhophobia, and Media Profiling,” I received a number of questions from people about hate-speech and hate-crimes. Some people denied that the... Read More![“Death in ten thousand shapes hangs ever over our heads, and no [hu]man can elude him.”](https://i0.wp.com/stateofformation.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/IMG_9860-1.jpg?resize=542%2C340&ssl=1)
“Death in ten thousand shapes hangs ever over our heads, and no [hu]man can elude him.”
The quote in the title above is placed on the lips of Sarpedon by Homer in The Iliad (Book 12, lines 326-327, c. 800-850 B.C.E., translated by Samuel Butler, 1898). It reflects the precariousness of l... Read More
It Looks Like the World Is Going to Hell: Global Warming and the Question of Hope
As part of the interfaith environmental work I am blessed to be able to do, I visit with people in congregations around the state about caring for the environment. In these conversations, I am almost ... Read More
Liberty and (Economic) Justice for All
I’ve been rejoicing to witness our US presidential election campaign narrative turning to economics, thanks to a contender with a background in the private equity business (or, vulture capitalis... Read More
Reasons Theism vs. Atheism is a Mostly Silly Issue
Of all the things to which humans ascribe tremendous social and moral worth, the question of whether or not God exists is, to my way of thinking, one of the silliest. It’s silly because it doesn’t... Read More
Rabbi (or) Da-da
The Shabbat before last was undoubtedly the best day my daughter Tina and I have spent together since I started my first job as a rabbi a few weeks ago. Saturday morning we took a walk together—Ti... Read More
Bikinis, Head Scarves and Little Black Dresses
“Daddy, can I get a bikini this summer?” my seven-year-old daughter asked toward the end of the school year. Sure, sweetheart. Could we stay indoors and watch episodes of Winnie the Pooh to recall... Read More
Will The Dark Knight Rise?
"People need dramatic examples to shake them out of apathy, and I can't do that as Bruce Wayne. As a man, I'm flesh and blood. I can be ignored, I can be destroyed. But as a symbol… as a symbol, I c... Read More