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rabbijoshuahoffman
- Dec 23, 2022
- 3 min
Perpetual Uncertainty - Eternal Light Shabbat Hanukkah 5783
Shabbat Hanukkah is always a special experience, especially when we have a nearly full hanukkiah to overpower the flames of the Shabbat...
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rabbijoshuahoffman
- Nov 11, 2022
- 2 min
Alone Together*
*This is also the title of a poem written by my teacher, Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis z"l. This post is shared in his honor. Can we fully...
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rabbijoshuahoffman
- Oct 26, 2022
- 3 min
When We Don't Ask Questions...But Should
Our concerns for human dignity and ecological sustainability have simply become overwhelming. The words of Ecclesiastes (Kohelet) "The...
79 views0 comments
rabbijoshuahoffman
- Sep 15, 2022
- 3 min
Beyond Blessings and Curses
About 10 years ago, a company that produces plant based meat products, Beyond Meat, began producing "Chicken-Free Strips" thus placing...
136 views0 comments
rabbijoshuahoffman
- Aug 31, 2022
- 2 min
False Prophets
Today, there is no shortage of predictions and prophecies. There are competitions to celebrate the formation and articulation of future...
67 views0 comments
rabbijoshuahoffman
- Aug 17, 2022
- 2 min
We Can Be Heroes!
Expressions of uncertainty are as certain as expressions of confidence. We celebrate those heroes who fearlessly transcend doubt and...
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rabbijoshuahoffman
- Aug 2, 2022
- 2 min
Don't Castigate. Educate!
In building relationships between people, a rhetorical question can draw the other close or it can stun them into silence. As a parent,...
106 views0 comments
rabbijoshuahoffman
- Jul 13, 2022
- 3 min
How We See Ourselves and How They See Us
It's only natural to wonder if others see us the way we see ourselves. This perception helps us define who we are. And yet, our concern...
113 views0 comments
rabbijoshuahoffman
- Jun 29, 2022
- 3 min
Making Space for Others
(This post is dedicated to the honor of Suzanne Gallant z"l, a soul master, a lyrical poet, a curious student, and a supportive friend)...
86 views0 comments
rabbijoshuahoffman
- Jun 17, 2022
- 3 min
Is Frustration Real?
In our neighborhood, there is a message board called, Nextdoor. People post on all kinds of subjects there, from free fruit for the...
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rabbijoshuahoffman
- May 31, 2022
- 2 min
Taking Responsibility
The flood of information, photos and videos, opinions, condemnations, prayers, and promises that have emerged in response to the horrific...
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rabbijoshuahoffman
- May 18, 2022
- 3 min
The Entertainment of Justice
The protections of free speech and free press in America are cornerstones in the advancement of social justice. These freedoms enable us...
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rabbijoshuahoffman
- May 11, 2022
- 3 min
The Torah of Questions
What makes a book sacred? History and longevity? Content? Mystical power? Each of these possibilities, and any others we discover, must...
57 views0 comments
rabbijoshuahoffman
- May 4, 2022
- 3 min
I'm Only Human -
Reading these words, many of us will begin to hum the song made popular by the 1980’s group Human League. For those who came of age a...
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rabbijoshuahoffman
- Apr 27, 2022
- 3 min
Pride and Purity
Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need - Khalil Gibran Pride seems to be the most difficult...
71 views0 comments
rabbijoshuahoffman
- Apr 12, 2022
- 2 min
How Many Questions Are There Anyway?
While the most popular question around the Seder table this coming weekend may be, “When do we eat?,” there is much more delight among...
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rabbijoshuahoffman
- Apr 4, 2022
- 2 min
What Is a Question?
Asking silly questions was often a humorous punchline to popular television shows not so long ago. Just think of the famous quip by Joey...
101 views0 comments
rabbijoshuahoffman
- Feb 20, 2020
- 3 min
Who is Asking? Some Thoughts on the Torah Portion, "Mishpatim"
2/20/2020 We are living in tremendously vulnerable times. This is evident in a commonly thrown concept of world leadership called “The...
15 views0 comments
rabbijoshuahoffman
- Sep 17, 2019
- 3 min
Share! Share! Share!
Parashat Ki Tavo: September 18, 2019 As parents, we try to learn from the vast wisdom of others and to teach our children to behave with...
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rabbijoshuahoffman
- Feb 28, 2019
- 3 min
The Waves of a Dream
February 28, 2019 As a child, I was fearless in the ocean. Waves would come crashing down and I would leap headlong toward them to...
4 views0 comments