Author Archives: Nachas & Drash

To Be Whole, You Need To Be Broken

A Hasidic master, Sfat Emet, writes during Sukkot “this is wholeness: a person with a broken heart… and in every place that G-d dwells, there is wholeness.” Wholeness is a person with a broken heart. Broken equals whole. What? This is how I understand it. A person whose heart is not broken, if even someContinue reading “To Be Whole, You Need To Be Broken”

Toying With Teshuva – The Yo-Yo Of Persistence

The Torah portion, Nitzavim, is read on the Shabbat before Rosh Hashanah – a time when teshuva is on our minds. Teshuva, repentance, is the great mitzvah of the ten days beginning with Rosh Hashana and culminating on Yom Kippur. There is no more appropriate Parsha to read right now, with Nitzavim teaching us, asContinue reading “Toying With Teshuva – The Yo-Yo Of Persistence“

Self-Preparation Readies Us For Community Celebration

Fridays are my favourite day of the week. I wake up with a song in my head and heart, a spring in my step and spend the day looking forward to Shabbat. Our Jewish calendar, after all, teaches us the importance of both mental and physical preparation. Whether it’s baking challah on Friday afternoon, cleaningContinue reading “Self-Preparation Readies Us For Community Celebration“

To Love And Be Loved, We Must Be Brave

Isn’t it interesting how the lessons we learn from Disney films translate to this majestical month of Elul? If you’ve ever watched Pixar’s production, Brave, you’re familiar with the fiery Merida. Not only is she a skilled Scottish archer, but she’s also determined to defy age-old customs, refuses to marry a lord from another clan,Continue reading “To Love And Be Loved, We Must Be Brave“

Teshuvah – Taming The Inner Beast

Teshuvah – the great mitzvah of repentance. We hear the word a lot this time of year, especially so in the days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. But it’s also a Disney theme. Beauty and the Beast is a story of teshuvah. The Beast’s sins of selfishness and pride bring upon himself and hisContinue reading “Teshuvah – Taming The Inner Beast”

The Mitzvah Of Uplifting The Inner Eeyore

I am unashamedly a Winnie the Pooh fan. This week, though, I want to focus on Eeyore. We all have a little Eeyore in us, don’t we? Jews, perhaps, could be considered a collective Eeyore. Think about it. We’re supposed to be eternally melancholy, burdened with years upon years of oppression. We always have aContinue reading “The Mitzvah Of Uplifting The Inner Eeyore“

We Must Review Where We Went To Get To Where We’re Going

As published in the Beit Luria newsletter, 30 July 2022 This week’s Torah portion in the diaspora is Parashat Masei. A quick glance at the portion suggests a straightforward recounting of the ancient Israelites’ journey in the desert. It’s kind of like the way we’d retell our tales about a trip – went here, didContinue reading “We Must Review Where We Went To Get To Where We’re Going”

Progressive Judaism and Technology

The South African Union for Progressive Judaism (SAUPJ) held its Biennial Conference over the weekend. Not only was it a privilege to spend time with our guest of honour, Rabbi Sergio Bergman, president of the World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ), but as a movement, we gathered to discuss pertinent issues.
Here is the talk I was privileged to present with South Africa Nezter’s Mazkir, Julian Gordon. There was some diverse and thoughtful feedback – please feel free to share your views in the comments.

Why Is This Shabbos Different From All Others?

And so the questions begin. Today is Shabbat Hagadol, the great Shabbat and that means that one week today we will be swimming in matzah and a host of other kosher le’Pesach treats. It also means it’s time to roll up our sleeves and clean chametz from the home. Think of it as Jewish springContinue reading “Why Is This Shabbos Different From All Others?”