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Rabbi Akselrad, 2nd from left, in Selma, 1965. “Justice, justice you shall pursue…” “Tzedek, tzedek, tirdof …”. Deuteronomy 16:20 On...

Starting Monday evening, the Jewish community will observe  Passover . Many of us will gather with family and friends at this joyous time...

It is the kind of spectacularly beautiful day that takes your breath away. It’s a Thursday morning, and I’m pedaling through the...

“Hey Rabbi Jamie, what does Judaism say about…?” How many times have I heard this? People like to think that Judaism will give them a...

Rabbi Jamie’s Corner is a periodic column at Hebrew Free Loan where I serve as the Director of Development. February 2023 Tu b’Shvat ,...

BY RABBI JAMIE HYAMS | NOVEMBER 22, 2022 The shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs hit really close to home. Until last month, I served...

The Torah portion Kedoshim begins with the charge קְדֹשִׁ֣ים תִּהְי֑וּ כִּ֣י קָד֔וֹשׁ אֲנִ֖י יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃ “You shall be holy,...

Chag Pesach sameach! At last night’s seder we began to count the Omer. Counting the Omer begins a 49-day journey of transformation from...

This week’s Torah portion, VaYishlach, began with Jacob preparing to see his brother Esau, with whom he was estranged, after many years. ...

Lech Lecha Every Friday morning I facilitate a Torah study group where the average age is 80. The zoom room is filled with a group of...

I try to keep services fresh… to not have the repetition of prayers and songs become so rote that they no longer resonate. Lately, as I...

I have been perseverating about this drash all week. What is a drash if it isn’t timely and in relation to what is going on, which...

It has been a long time coming but I’m about to cross the finish line in my journey to become a rabbi. My thesis has been presented and...

In this week’s Torah portion, Trumah, we read, “And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to the Israelites, that they take Me a...

Parashat Vayihi, 202 1 Last Thursday night was Christmas Eve and like many Jews around the world, I celebrated with take-out Chinese food...

Reb Jamie, 12/04/202 – Parashat Vayishlach Yesterday the governor of California announced a return to the strictest level of pandemic...

It’s been quite a ride between the lockdown, the protests against racial injustice, the reopening, the continuing partial shutdown…....

So, a friend sent me a joke – “Jewish irony~ Passover cancelled due to plague.” While I know it supposed to be funny, I just keep...

Dearest Congregation P’nai Tikvah, As we move our community online through Passover, here is what we are envisioning. We will be using...

Our weekly community created prayer reads, “Help me to remember that we are all made in Your Image.  Give me discernment to seek the...