Category: Theology
No longer will they call you Forsaken
A piece from young America’s favorite news source, The Onion, recently came out, entitled “Poll: Majority of Americans Approve of Sending Congress to Syria.” It’s funny, see&... Read More
5774: The Year of Tangerine Teshuvah
Recently, I bought a tangerine. It was an accident, really. I didn’t mean to buy a tangerine. I meant to buy an orange. They look pretty similar, especially when you’re in a rush and you k... Read More
As Long as Possibility Remains: A Reflection on the Aftermath of Ariel Castro’s Suicide
A man killed himself last week. In itself, by itself, that’s not so uncommon, or even statistically noteworthy; in itself, by itself, it is staggering and significant. For me, Northeast Ohio is home... Read More
Lessons Learned while Teaching Buddhist Monks
Teaching Cambodian Buddhist monks is mostly the same as teaching Cambodian children. There are less discipline problems and the monks can’t play games—even educational ones. Also, because I am... Read More
Rosh HaShanah – The Day of Infinite Possibilities
Each year we have the opportunity read the text of our lives differently according to the vowels we supply. Rosh Hashanah invites us to gently and lovingly bring ourselves back to God, the eternal mot... Read More
Three Holidays and a Bar Mitzvah
As I write this, the first of the Jewish High Holy Days, Rosh Hashana, is less than two days away—and (to paraphrase Rabbi Alan Lew), I am completely unprepared. The month of Elul, now rapidly comin... Read More
Jon Kabat-Zinn and Kierkegaard walk into an ICU
Jon: Let’s breath in, acknowledge our emotions, and observe. Soren: Yes, let’s do that. But what is the question you are willing to live for? I am a medical resident working in an ICU in Boston. M... Read More
Ramadan Diary 1434/2013 Week 4 (part 3)
Day 28 – Aug. 5, 2013 Prayer from Imam Zayn al-Abidin (AS): My God, were it not incumbent to accept Your command, I would declare You far too exalted for me to remember You, for I remember You i... Read More