Here is a photo from last night’s 8 Hannukah Worldwide event at Webster Hall in NYC. We had around 1,000 folks cramming the dancefloor – a great turnout. The other highlight of the weekend was seeing my beloved’s play produced at Montclair State University. Katrina: The K Word was a tour de force — it captured the intensity, heartbreak and bravery of Katrina survivors. Kudos to Lisa, Sue, and the entire cast and crew!
Click here for a marvelous dance video featuring heavy machinery.
Over the last few months I’ve been working with the good people over at JDUB records on “The 8” which is a worldwide Hanukkah event this coming December 8th. We are starting to get somenice press on it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLatWKvAkHQ
Clergy are not supposed to endorse political candidates and I certainly am not about to do so on a blog, but I’m watching the Democratic candidates debate right now and I have to say that while the front runners are all smooth talking – and Richardson is winning a few points for comic edge – Senator Biden is coming across as the strongest of the lot. He is rude at times, I admit, but he speaks from experience and has…
A newly hired vice president who is leading the new outreach effort, Rabbi Daniel Brenner, estimated the portion of Birthright Israel alumni who do not now engage in Jewish life at 60%.But he said his new program presents an “amazing window of opportunity” — both for the Jewish community and for the many who have lost touch with it.So far, he said, the new initiative has enough funding to support a $3.3 million annual budget, which it hopes to double…
Loyal readers of Reb Blog, Please forgive me for taking so much time in between posts! The reality is that taking on a new job has been both wonderful and exhausting and spending time managing an international project and crafting a three year plan for a major educational effort has given me little time to write and reflect on the blog. There have been many moments that I wanted to post in the last few months — great audio highlights…
New Jersey rabbi’s new role begins where free trips to Israel leave off Rabbi Daniel Brenner has been named vice president of education at birthright israel. by Johanna GinsbergNJJN Staff Writer05.31.07 As head of interfaith programming for a Presbyterian seminary, Rabbi Daniel Brenner was often on the receiving end of jibes of the “What’s a nice Jewish boy like you¦” variety. And yet, so comfortable had he grown at Manhattan’s Auburn Theological Seminary, he acknowledged, that he had to be…
It is a grey, rainy day on this date of mourning in Manhattan. Six years seems like a long time — last year the five year mark was a significant milestone and I felt the gravity of the day as I stood outside Trinity Wall street. This year I was rushing off to work, watching a hundred umbrellas bobbing on the sidewalk – life as usual. we move on. I went to read my 9/11 pieces that I wrote after…
I’ll Stop the World and Melt With You Same story every year. The rich man A big sinner The pious rabbi Alone in his study. How can I atone? We will go to the blacksmith. Put all your gold in the fire Melt it down Dip in a spoon and drink the molten metal. The rabbi’s shaky hands tie a blindfold around the rich guy’s head. Are you ready to pay the price for your sins? A spoonful of marmalade….