Let’s rethink the assumptions of religion, taking seriously what we learn about the world from science (including relativity theory, quantum, cognitive neurology, evolution) and bring that back to a biblical/rabbinic understanding of how God and world create meaning through dynamic relationship and self-determined choice.
Listen in to December's Q&A with Rabbi Artson and the students of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies. This month's hot topics: the future of Conservative Judaism, December dilemma, Kaddish without a Minyan, Jewish law (halakhah) today, the power of Hanukkah, personal preference vs communal authority, issues about Israel!
Listen in to the Ziegler School monthly Q&A with Rabbi Bradley Artson, as we explore: teshuva for today, making the world more just, is Conservative Judaism dying?, can we get the old people to step aside?, what if you don't believe in God?, what about Ellen?, and french fries? and how do we navigate humility while being true to ourselves?
The Torah urges us to “love our neighbor as ourselves,” but most of us are not really good at loving ourselves, or treating ourselves with compassion. Rabbi Artson invites us to see ourselves as good, kind, and holy, so that we can take better care of ourselves and each other.
A dialogue from second day Rosh HaShanah between Rabbi Artson and Rabbi David Wolpe at Sinai Temple. The topic is why we still believe in God, despite all the reasons not to.
Religion is too important to leave just to the believers. Even as a human creation, religion is second to none for locating one’s story in a bigger narrative, for connecting us to community and belonging, to inspire us with art and architecture and imagination, and to motivate us to care for those in need.
Rabbi Artson’s first Q&A of the academic year. Lively back-and-forth with the Ziegler students on topics for this year’s High Holy Days; rabbinic view of football and concussions; thoughts on rabbinic roles in political debate; what we can hope for in Israel’s election; managing a divisive world; skepticism about marriage and commitments; should Jews be pressured to marry and have babies; the Jewish community of tomorrow and how it must evolve!
During a period of partisan zeal and assault, too many succumb to the temptation to jettison decency and righteousness for a short term victory. Exploring the wisdom of the Torah, to “love your neighbor as yourself,” Rabbi Artson dives deep into the fusion of the personal and the communal, the private and the public. Future rabbis — and all who love virtue and goodness — have a duty to double down on truth, on strengthening character, personal integrity, human dignity (our own and each other’s), and on implementing love as justice.
Rabbi Dorff explains different practices in the ZSRS minyan.
