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Are You Married?

“Life is like a wedding.” So Jewish wisdom teaches. What does this mean?

One rabbi says it is the Jewish equivalent of “carpe diem, seize the day, live life to its fullest.” This rabbi points to one of the Hebrew words for wedding, Huppah.

Huppah means wedding, but it also refers to the wedding canopy.  A canopy goes up. Then, soon after the marriage ceremony, it is taken down. Our lives are similar.

We are here for a brief period. Then we are no more. During that brief period, we should live as if we are at a wedding, celebrating, making merry, enjoying ourselves with legitimate pleasures.

A More Original Idea Continue reading

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My 2 1/2 Minutes of Fame

The Jewish holiday of Purim is all about fun. This year we told the story of the Book of Esther through the characters of Disney’s Frozen. I got to play the snowman Olaf. Here’s my solo. Try not to laugh too hard.

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Is It Ever Okay to Hate? A Lesson for Purim

In Sunday school we tend to emphasize the inspiring parts of the Bible. “Love your neighbor as yourself,” and “Do justly, love mercy, walk humbly with thy God.” (Leviticus 19:18; Micah 6:8)

But what about the more difficult passages? What about the murdering and pillaging and sexual perversity? As we begin the Jewish holiday of Purim, we confront an immensely challenging text.

A People to Destroy  Continue reading

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The Blessings of an Imperfect World

The most charming character in Disney’s hit movie Frozen is the snowman Olaf. He is goofy and wise at the same time. His wisdom is a gift for each of us.

Why Olaf? 

Olaf is a snowman who dreams of summer. For him it is perfect in every way. It is the time , as he sings, when he can tan, play with the followers, and roll around in the sand.

The joke is, of course, is that as a snowman, he can only live in the cold. He is wishing for the one thing thing he can’t have. He is idealizing the one experience he can never experience. 

Life is not a Fairy Tale Continue reading

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How Lent Started with Passover

We know about the connection between Passover and Easter. But what about the connection between the 40 days of Lent and the ancient Jewish holiday Jesus observed?

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Preparation is the Purpose

At first glance, Passover and engaging in the discipline of Lent seem to have little in common.  Continue reading

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How To Tell If An Apology is Real

Ted Nugent is the latest celebrity to apologize publicly for words he spoke. He follows Phil Robertson from Duck Dynasty, Alec Baldwin, Paula Deen and Shia LeBeouf.

Are these celebrity apologies real? Who is their intended audience? How can we tell a genuine apology from an insincere one? Continue reading

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4 Problems with New Son of God Movie

This time was supposed to be different.

Earlier this week I was invited to see the Chicago premier of the Son of God film, directed by Mark Burnett and Roma Downey. They achieved great success with The Bible miniseries on the History Channel.

I was excited. As someone dedicated to building bridges between Jews and Christians, I hoped this film would help and educate. I was wrong. Here’s why:

1. This time was supposed to be different: Different from Mel Gibson’s horrific violent film of a decade ago. Free of the anti-Semitism and Jewish caricatures of a decade ago: Did it succeed? NO. Even as the Anti-Defamation league signed off on the film, it persists in displaying anti-Jewish stereotypes.
2. The Laughing Jewish High Priest at Jesus’ execution: Every movie and every story needs a villain. Filmmakers decided to make the Jewish High Priest Caiaphas the villain. That’s not how historians recount what happened: It was Pontius Pilate who was the true villain, and the film  does not show that.
3. Jesus was Jewish, and this is not shown well in the film: In fact, even as the film tries to convey a Christian message, it does so sporadically and out of context; anyone who is not already a believer would have a hard time discerning any spiritual message.
4. A big missed opportunity: Every filmmaker makes choice. I do not expect this film to be perfect or to be something I show in a class. Yet, Burnett and Downey constantly choose the outrageous over the plausible, the exclusive over the inclusive.

They could have done much better. Since many churches, especially here in Chicago, are sending big groups to the film, it is all the more disappointing to have missed a chance for deeper learning and repair of the religious divide in America.

Question: Have You Seen the Film? What Do You Think? 

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The Diamond with the Scratch: A Story of Hope and Healing

This short story, first told in the 19th century, continues to bring comfort and healing. We can use it every day of our lives.

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Love Wins: 3 Spiritual Truths from Disney’s Frozen

I used to enjoy walking into a home of peace and quiet. Since the film Frozen premiered, I have lacked this simple pleasure. Its soundtrack seems to play on a continuous loop every day throughout our home.

I guess that’s part of the price to pay for having two small children. As a glass half-full kind of guy, however, I’ve tried to find the positive message in my children’s obsession with this particular film. Aside from its beautiful music and cinematography, it does convey profound truths.  Continue reading