by RabbiOlivier | Apr 21, 2014 | Adult Learning, Holidays, Torah Reflections
A Connection Through Time Sunday is coming to a close, and tomorrow night is the first night of Passover. I just finished cleaning our house and I can’t imagine there could be any chametz anywhere. Chametz is the Hebrew word that stands for all leavened...
by RabbiOlivier | Apr 21, 2014 | Adult Learning, Holidays, Torah Reflections
The Kabbalah of Passover A few years ago, at our annual Bet Alef Community Seder, I shared with those in attendance — members and non-members alike — a tradition that has been in my family for, I suspect, many generations. Growing up, I remember...
by RabbiOlivier | Apr 21, 2014 | Adult Learning, Holidays, Torah Reflections
Preparing for Passover #1 Mah Nish’tanah? What Has Changed? This is the time of the year, personally, when I delight in re-opening the Passover Haggadah and in looking inside for more treasures to be revealed. Four years ago I compiled a new version of the...
by RabbiOlivier | Sep 9, 2013 | Adult Learning, High Holy Days Meditations, Torah Reflections
If these Days of Awe have revealed anything to me this year so far, it is — above all — that the work has to start with us. Doing the work of forgiveness is far from easy, far from comfortable; yet if we commit ourselves to healing, to living our lives...
by RabbiOlivier | Sep 9, 2013 | Adult Learning, High Holy Days Meditations, Torah Reflections
Making amends is truly when the rubber meets the road. We have done all this work forgiving others, and now we have to go out there and repair the damage we have done. If we worked on our letter yesterday, and rehearsed our conversation, we might feel ready. Yet...