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Immanent Presence and Tikkun Olam
The advent of Chat GPT and the new AI driven Bing search engine underscore the incredible longing for certainty in a complicated world....
rabbijoshuahoffman
Mar 1, 20233 min read


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...
rabbijoshuahoffman
Dec 23, 20223 min read


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...
rabbijoshuahoffman
Nov 11, 20222 min read


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...
rabbijoshuahoffman
Oct 26, 20223 min read


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...
rabbijoshuahoffman
Sep 15, 20223 min read


False Prophets
Today, there is no shortage of predictions and prophecies. There are competitions to celebrate the formation and articulation of future...
rabbijoshuahoffman
Aug 31, 20222 min read


We Can Be Heroes!
Expressions of uncertainty are as certain as expressions of confidence. We celebrate those heroes who fearlessly transcend doubt and...
rabbijoshuahoffman
Aug 17, 20222 min read


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,...
rabbijoshuahoffman
Aug 2, 20222 min read


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...
rabbijoshuahoffman
Jul 13, 20223 min read


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)...
rabbijoshuahoffman
Jun 29, 20223 min read


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...
rabbijoshuahoffman
Jun 17, 20223 min read


Taking Responsibility
The flood of information, photos and videos, opinions, condemnations, prayers, and promises that have emerged in response to the horrific...
rabbijoshuahoffman
May 31, 20222 min read


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...
rabbijoshuahoffman
May 18, 20223 min read


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...
rabbijoshuahoffman
May 11, 20223 min read


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...
rabbijoshuahoffman
May 4, 20223 min read


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...
rabbijoshuahoffman
Apr 27, 20223 min read


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...
rabbijoshuahoffman
Apr 12, 20222 min read


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...
rabbijoshuahoffman
Apr 4, 20222 min read


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...
rabbijoshuahoffman
Feb 20, 20203 min read


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...
rabbijoshuahoffman
Sep 18, 20193 min read