July 16, 2022 The Herald of Dawn, Elena Kotliarker This week, I found it was on my mind to write this rather than going with something more traditional about this week’s Torah portion: Anxiety is defined as
On Anxiety
Recipes
Rocks, Pebbles, Sand, and Tea (Part III)
July 15, 2022 by Shellen Lubin Story for Friday Night All this talk of tea
Parash Chukat
July 9, 2022 In today
The Woman Who Lost & Found Her Power
July 8, 2022 Story for Friday Night There was a woman in an ancient city who was known far and wide for how smart and strong and capable she was. She was also known for how she never said no to any task, no matter how large or small, and…
A Story About a Cup of Tea (Part II)
July 1, 2022 Story for Friday Night A Story About a Cup of Tea NARRATOR: There were two friends, Jonatha and Lucinda, who used to love to meet for tea. Sometimes they
The Axe and a Grove of Trees
June 25, 2022 Story for Friday Night There was a grove of trees by a deep, rushing river. The grove was full of strong, sturdy oaks, richly-colored ever-changing maples, prickly evergreen pines, supple balletic weeping willows, and huge lilac bushes overflowing with soft, beautiful flowers. The grove of trees had…
Parshat Emor May 14, 2022
Painting by Elena Kotliarker, Musician of Olive Garden There are times when I read a section of Torah that it leaves me with a sense of discomfort.
A Baby Present
May 13, 2022 Story for Friday Night
Death Match
April 29, 2022 Story for Friday Night He knew that Death would someday demand a chess match for his soul. He had spent his whole life preparing for it, ever since he
On Blessings and Curses
May 8, 2021 IF YOU FOLLOW MY LAWS AND FAITHFULLY OBSERVE MY COMMANDMENTS, I WILL GRANT YOUR RAINS IN THEIR SEASONS, SO THE EARTH SHALL YIELD ITS PRODUCE AND THE TREES OF THE FIELD THEIR FRUIT.
On Inclusion: Parasha Emor
May 1, 2021 Let
On Holiness: Parasha Kedoshim
April 24, 2021 If I were to ask you to name some things that are holy, you might suggest that G-d is holy, life is holy, and the Torah is holy.
On Healing: Parasha Tazria
On Shame: Parasha Shemini
April 10, 2021 Several years ago I had a conversation with an individual who had been accepted into the Chaplaincy Corps for the City of Lincoln.
Porcupine Warmth
March 19, 2021 Story for Friday Night Loosely based on a scenario by Arthur Schopenhauer Once upon a time in the middle of a very cold and dark winter, there were seven little porcupines whose parents were out and about far away searching for food in the vast snow-covered forest….
Nightgown Quilts
March 12, 2021 Once in a far-off time and place with no phone, no television, no computer, and no internet, there was a young girl named Lydia who had a very terrible disease that meant she could not walk or even stand up, and she could never never go outside
Take Heed
March 6, 2021 You may pray for answers I long for the questions whose answers are unknown You may pray for guidance I crave the strength to not need to be shown This is what I ask What I believe I need Courage for the task Take heed You may…
Purim Celebration
The video below is the second half of the Purimspiel as retold by Shellen Lubin with the following players (in order of speaking): King Achashverosh – Daniel Neiden Chamberlain Charvonah – Shellen Queen Esther – Zija Lubin-West Ghost of Queen Vashti – Katherine Elliot and the congregants joyfully making noise…
Three Mothers, a Reflection on MLK Day
January 30, 2021 NARRATOR:
Parashat: The Rape of Dinah
December 5, 2020 Isn