Monthly Archives: May 2013

The Power of Change

Posted on May 30, 2013 by Rabbi Adam Chalom

A version of this article appeared in The Shofar newsletter of Kol Hadash Humanistic Congregation in May 2012. Humanity is ambivalent about change. Why should Judaism be any different? On one hand, we are nature’s most adaptive species, changing the rules … Continue reading →

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Funny or Cruel?

Posted on May 29, 2013 by Rabbi Adam Chalom

Recently an “Off the Derech” (ex-Orthodox) acquaintance/Facebook friend of mine tried selling his portion in the world to come on ebay. This reminded me of a piece I wrote for the Chicago Tribune “Seeker” Religion Blog a few years ago. … Continue reading →

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A Test of Humanity, Not Faith

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Rabbi Adam Chalom

This is a repost from the Chicago Tribune’s “The Seeker” Religion blog, written in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Haiti (2010).  Unfortunately, the Oklahoma tornados (May 2013) are one more example we didn’t need. It can be comforting to imagine … Continue reading →

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Facing Challenges

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Rabbi Adam Chalom

This article appeared in the June 2013 Shofar newsletter of Kol Hadash Humanistic Congregation If our Humanism and our Judaism are meaningful to us, they should help us through difficult times. After all, it’s easy to believe that you are in … Continue reading →

Posted in General HJ, Kol Hadash Shofar | 1 Comment

Shavuot – A Harvest of Words and Ideas

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Rabbi Adam Chalom

Some of this blog post is reprinted from the Society for Humanistic Judaism‘s journal Humanistic Judaism (Spring/Summer 2011) with permission. Shavuot (“weeks”) was originally the second of three harvest festivals, celebrating the first fruits of spring planting 50 days after Passover. Rabbinic Judaism added to … Continue reading →

Posted in Holidays, Humanistic Judaism journal | 1 Comment

Is Sports a Religion, or is Religion a Sport?

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Rabbi Adam Chalom

Some of this originally appeared on the Chicago Tribune’s “The Seeker” religion blog and in the Shofar newsletter of Kol Hadash Humanistic Congregation. As NBA and NHL seasons enter the playoffs and MLB is heating up, you will inevitably hear more about the … Continue reading →

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Choose to ACT-3-Comforting Mourners

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Rabbi Adam Chalom

In this house is a family who has lost their matriarch, whose funeral I will be performing this weekend. We had a very frank and yet loving discussion of a complex and in many ways wonderful woman. Humanistic #choosetoACT can … Continue reading →

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ChoosetoACT-2

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Rabbi Adam Chalom

#ChoosetoACT number 2 – Donating a heavy box of used children’s books to Bernie’s Book Bank, a wonderful charity that provides free books and even home libraries to children and families who need them. So far, haven’t felt excluded by … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized, Week of Action | 1 Comment

ChoosetoACT #1

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Rabbi Adam Chalom

You don’t have to buy an American-made plug-in hybrid to #choosetoACT, but mine showed up yesterday! Members of Kol Hadash Humanistic Congregation are supporting a “Choose to Act” initiative this May 2 as our response to the declared “National Day of Prayer,” … Continue reading →

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“If Humanistic Jews don’t pray, what do you do?” “We DO!”

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Rabbi Adam Chalom

Those whose wisdom exceed their good deeds, to what may they be compared? To a tree whose branches are many but whose roots are few, and the wind comes and uproots it and overturns it on its face. But those … Continue reading →

Posted in General HJ, Week of Action | 3 Comments