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The Wondering Jew

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Jewish

2024-12-24T22:09:17-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Chanukah: Minor Holiday or Source of Identity?

Last updated on: December 24, 2024 at 10:09 pm By Rabbi David Feder

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“When is the Jewish Christmas this year?” How many times have all of us heard that question or some variant over the course of our lifetimes? Sometimes I begin to explain the differences between Christmas and Chanukah; other times I simply respond, “This year Chanukah begins on the night of December 25.” To the casual observer the observance of the two holidays seems similar. They’re both solstice celebrations that have been adapted to fit different historical circumstances: the birth of... Read more

2024-12-19T23:49:22-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Joseph’s Lesson: Being Present & Breaking the Cycle

Last updated on: December 19, 2024 at 11:49 pm By Rabbi David Feder

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We all know a Joseph. Not a person named Joseph, I’m sure most of us know one of those. I mean someone like the biblical Joseph. I don’t mean the older, powerful, second-in-command of Egypt, Joseph. I mean the younger, spoiled, obnoxious, completely lacking in self-awareness and humility Joseph. The one whose very existence inspires thoughts and dreams of homicide or at least of a dark and disturbing fate. We’ve had to suffer through at least one Joseph in... Read more

Family, Parenting and Religion

2024-12-18T07:46:26-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Jacob, Esau, and Lessons for the Holiday Season

Last updated on: December 18, 2024 at 7:46 am By Rabbi David Feder

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‘Tis the season for parties, gifts, bonuses, and vacations. And it’s also the season for comparisons. Who threw the most lavish party? Who got the largest bonus? Who got the most gifts? The best gifts? Who visited the most exclusive resorts? It’s our annual yardstick for determining who has more and who is the most successful. Jacob’s Journey Home If we flash back a few thousand years, this week’s Torah portion is remarkably similar. In Parashat Vayishlach (Genesis 32:4-36:43), Jacob... Read more

Relationships and Religion

Business, Finance and Religion

2024-12-05T23:15:38-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Confronting Fear: A Journey toward Adulting and Growth

Last updated on: December 5, 2024 at 11:15 pm By Rabbi David Feder

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New beginnings are fraught with uncertainty and usually at least a little fear. Think back to anticipating the first day of school, unsure of who your teachers or classmates would be, made even worse in a new school. When you began a new job, were you certain you had everything you needed to succeed? When you lost a job and felt yourself staring into the abyss of unemployment, how frightened were you of not finding a new position or at... Read more

Relationships and Religion

2024-12-02T08:08:17-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Thanksgiving: Family Dynamics Today and in Biblical Times

Last updated on: December 2, 2024 at 8:08 am By Rabbi David Feder

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Turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie, and families traveling across town and across country to get together. It’s our recipe for Thanksgiving. Although there’s no mention of turkey or pumpkin pie, this week’s Torah portion, Toldot (Genesis 25:18-28:9) does feature food and family and unfortunately some of the same family dynamics many of us will encounter this week. Instead of arguing about politics or football, or complaining about the dryness of the turkey, our biblical progenitors prepared meals and fought over birthright... Read more

Family, Parenting and Religion

2024-11-22T18:18:00-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Identity: Do We Have to Choose?

Last updated on: November 22, 2024 at 6:18 pm By Rabbi David Feder

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I recently read The Dance of the Demons by Esther Kreitman, the older sister of Israel Joshua and Isaac Bashevis Singer, originally published in 1936. Perusing this week’s Torah portion, Chayei Sarah (Genesis 23:1-25:18), I was struck by similarities between the two. On the surface there is little to connect the two. Kreitman’s novel tells a veiled autobiographical tale of a rabbi’s daughter in Poland who feels alienated from her family, the greater community, and the role that she... Read more

History and Religion

Politics and Religion

2024-11-14T08:03:24-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Have We Become Like Sodom?

Last updated on: November 14, 2024 at 8:03 am By Rabbi David Feder

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This week’s Torah portion, Vayera (Genesis 18:1-22:24) contains at least one story with which we’re all familiar, the story of Sodom and Gomorrah: fire, brimstone, and Lot’s wife being turned into a pillar of salt. But why were these cities destroyed? What’s the sin of Sodom? It’s probably not the answer you expect. The sin of Sodom is not sexual in nature, but both personal and social. Sodom was destroyed because of all-consuming selfishness and greed. Rabbinic sources, primarily the... Read more

History and Religion

Social Responsibility

Sodom and Gomorrah

2024-11-08T00:51:10-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Embracing Disappointment: Learning from Abraham

Last updated on: November 8, 2024 at 12:51 am By Rabbi David Feder

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In the weeks leading up to the election, the only thing about which I was absolutely certain was that about half the country would be disappointed in the results. Disappointment is something with which I am very familiar. As a fan of the Oakland/Los Angeles/Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders for more than 50 years, I have witnessed more than my fair share of head-scratching draft choices, inexplicable trades, and a dizzying coaching carousel without seeing positive results. I think I can talk... Read more

Politics and Religion

2024-11-05T09:07:39-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Voting: A Jewish Obligation?

Last updated on: November 5, 2024 at 9:07 am By Rabbi David Feder

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The election is upon us. God-willing this will mean it is once again safe to watch television and listen to the radio without the endless stream of campaign ads and that the spam levels in our inboxes will return to a normal, almost manageable level. For the cynics among us, election season calls to mind the lyrics of Pete Townsend: “There’s nothing in the street Looks any different to me And the slogans are effaced, by-the-bye And the parting on... Read more

2024-11-04T10:34:40-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Noah: Trauma, Survival, and Finding Hope After Catastrophe

Last updated on: November 4, 2024 at 10:34 am By Rabbi David Feder

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Noah is one of the most familiar characters in the Hebrew Bible. We all know his story; countless children’s books have been written about Noah’s ark. Noah’s story is not for children. Most of us don’t really know the full story of Noah. And Noah, more than most, is the Biblical character who best exemplifies life today for millions of people around the world. Noah is the first to endure cataclysmic trauma, survive, and then struggle to deal with its... Read more

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