Rabbi Daniel Brenner

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…

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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…

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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….

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Who Shall Live A layer of Saran WrapProtectionA shpritz of lemon juiceSecretThese red delicious will remain whiteWithout sin. Who shall live?And who shall dye their hair?Who by pestilence?Who by Pilates? Nobody knows.What is this ‘Jeopardy’?Well it’sAnother year, spaceship earth has made one more elliptical orbit-Planetarium narrator.And I’m still here.We’re still here. God is the KingMay the thorny crown be replaced by something more comfortable,Say with a sweatband,Perhaps in size six. Heed the cry of the shofar!Heed the blast of the…

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About 5 truck stops South of my hometown of Charlotte, NC (past the Gafney peach and about a dozen Fireworks stores) is the road to Clemson. That road takes you to the Georgia mountains on the Appalachian trail. That is where I was last week, in Clayton, for a Hillel-sponsored conference at Ramah Darom.  Many highlights to report, one being the opportuinty to lead services with Josh Nelson, a young Jazz educator and Jewish music composer. The service we lead was the “creative liberal” one – and after I gave a short drash on “tzedek,tzedek tirdof” he broke into the Police’s “Message in a Bottle.”  You might be thinking that this was corny. But at that moment, overlooking a calm lake and summer evening sky, it was the opposite — it was serious and moving, and many people remarked that it was the high point for them in the davenning.  Josh is both an accomplished guitarist and a singer with…

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yes, i blog from der judenstadt! last night I was at the Lab in Jerusalem- old train station now performance space to see Shem Yichud, a midrashic theater piece by Basmat Hazan Arnof…a deeply religious piece about loneliness, prayer, marriage, omelettes. Afterwards, we went to Hadag Nachash’s free show…a thousand Israelis of all ages shaking their tucheses to the groovy sounds of funk and hip-hop and Shanon Streit yelling “Nehenim v’mapsutim?” Hebra-Arabic for “y’all having a good time?” Kein v’aiwa.

At Any Given HourInspired by Cesaria Evora At any given hour men are arguing about the path of a ball.In, out, goal no goal, each has his opinion. One says “Let’s get back to work” At any given hour women are talking about their bodies.Blood, no blood, sick not sick, each has her own opinion. One says “It is what it is – it will be what it will be” And soon it is evening.They come together over food.Some talk…

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Here they are funkifying the bamboo-ed corner of my suburban lawn behind my humble abode. Notice the faux grass carpet underneath the drums – remnant of my dreams of a mini-golf course. Thanks to Jon for the PA system and to Daniel for recommending them. btw i clicked this photo with my phone – the T-Mobile Dash. I highly recommend this slim, ugly phone to all those who crave multi-tasking devices. I can even play chess on the thing.

My apologies to all Reb Blog readers for the hiatus. Many things are cooking in my life that have prevented the usual posting. The big news is that after four wonderful years I am leaving Auburn to return to the Jewish world, taking on a new position at the birthright israel foundation and working on an initiative that will foster Jewish community and connection for Jews between ages 18 and 30. There’s an article in NJJN on my job switch…

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Check out this wonderful new blog on Jews and Carrots. And matza. And organic produce. And just about everything else to do with “How a Jew Eats.” (please steal this book title!) Yasher Koach to Hazon for launching this project.