YCT Alumnus Spotlight
It is nice to be recognized by one’s alma mater. In the most recent issue of the weekly newsletter of the rabbinical school from which I graduated, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, I was featured! In the second section, in which they highlight a current student or an alumnus, I am theContinue Reading
Having a Blast: “Bourbons & Blasting”
Last night, I led a discussion on shofar-blasting for Rosh HaShanah, which was cheerfully accompanied by a bourbon-tasting. Continuing on with the bimonthly series I began two years ago with a spirits-tasting and learning opportunity, last night’s event focussed on various aspects of shofar-blasting, just in time ahead of RoshContinue Reading
Speaking with CSUF Students about Rosh HaShanah
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to speak with students at California State University, Fullerton about the upcoming holiday of Rosh HaShanah. In collaboration with Orange County Hillel, I spoke during their weekly “Throw Bagel Thursday” event in the Titan Student Union, discussing aspects about the holiday, which will be coming upContinue Reading
Discussion on High Holidays in Orange County with Young Adults
Last night, I led a discussion for young adults regarding Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, the “High Holidays”, in the Torah. Part of my “Bible & Brewery” series, visiting different breweries in the greater Orange County-Long Beach area, while exploring Biblical sections, this event took place at The Bruery inContinue Reading
Helping High School Seniors with Divrei Torah
Yesterday, I took part in a really neat program that a local Jewish school ran. Tarbut v’Torah in Irvine has its high school seniors deliver a d’var Torah on a given parashah at some point during the school year. To help them with their speeches, Tarbut v’Torah invited various rabbisContinue Reading
Discussing Judging with Beach Hillel
Yesterday, I led a discussion with a dozen students at California State University, Long Beach for Beach Hillel on the topic of judging. Appropriate for the upcoming holiday of Rosh HaShanah – the Jewish New Year, also known as Yom HaDin – the Day of Judgment, we discussed judging. AsContinue Reading
“Rabbinic Reflections” Column in this Month’s Long Beach Jewish Chronicle
In this month’s issue of the Long Beach Jewish Chronicle (available online as well as in-print), a column of mine appears. I wrote briefly about rising in the summer morning in Jewish thought,* which went well with the issue’s theme of Health & Wellness. Feel free to check it out!Continue Reading
Hillel Institute 2013 [Throwback Thursday]
With the current Summer Hillel Institute taking place at the moment, I figured this would be a good opportunity to share some of how I was enriched from taking part in this professional development gathering.* The clear highlights for me were attending Rabbi Daniel Smokler’s sessions. He did one withContinue Reading
Follow-Up from Our Taglit-Birthright Israel Trip Two Months Later
It’s now been two months since the Taglit-Birthright Israel I co-led returned, which is making me reflect on what’s gone on since then. We’ve gotten an entire third of our trip together twice now and I’ve also met up with several of our participants on multiple occasions. We areContinue Reading
Serving as a Judaic Educator at BBYO’s ILTC [Throwback Thursday]
In the summers of 2011 and 2012, I served for a few weeks at B’nai B’rith Youth Organization’s International Leadership Training Conference (BBYO ILTC) as one of two Judaic Educators. While I had worked as a madrich for a few summers during college at BBYO summer programs at B’nai B’rithContinue Reading