Today is eight days, which is one week and one day of the omer: hesed she’big’vurah. Today Milwaukee Brewers’ Ryan Braun was a contender because he’s Jewish (and you know, a pretty good ball player), but using PEDs, denying it, attacking the test collector, and only later admitting his use is not #goodfortheJews. Instead I’m going with Reds second baseman Joe Morgan — and not just because … Continue reading day 8: little joe
Sticky post
Sports lovers rejoice! While the entire Jewish world is focused on Passover, as soon as the first day of Passover is over, we are headed to Omertime! The Omer is a 49 day period between Passover and Shavuot when it’s a mitzvah to say a blessing and count each day. This incredibly simple, two minute nightly ritual, is also deeply mystical and can be the … Continue reading We’re Going to Omertime
When I haven’t stepped on the court in a long time, from the moment I pickup a basketball, I am on fire. I cannot miss. Figuratively speaking that is. (My shooting percentage is not 100%). But I feel like I cannot miss. After a long layoff, with little warm-up, I am in the flow of the game. The first few times this happened, I thought … Continue reading The Undeserved Grace of Passover
I love the transitions between holy times in the Jewish year. The spaces in-between remind us that special moments don’t often come out of a vacuum and that we can participate in the formation of holy experiences through small, sacred tasks. On Passover, we remember our Israelite ancestors’ enslavement in Egypt, as if it were our own. We say, “avadaim hayinu” – we were slaves … Continue reading The Omer in Context
Omertime 