Category: Thoughts
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Hope and MLK
In life, there are always choices to be made. Every day and every hour, we have an opportunity to make decisions that not only affect us but, like a pebble skimming across the water, have a ripple effect on our surroundings. As we celebrate MLK in January, this is the…
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The Gift of Light
December is always a joyous month. For some, the winter season has set with snow; for those in the south, a cool breeze refreshes the air, yet darkness falls earlier, no matter the geological location. As one, light is the connecter, albeit the foundation in which it is displayed. When…
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Gratitude and Reflections
What are memories? How are they captured? How are they preserved? Are memories maintained in photos and physical items, or are they the thoughts we carry in our hearts? The answer is simple: it’s all of the above. Those who have visited my home know my office is encompassed with…
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Make Hope Your Best Friend
In life, we have choices. You can sit back and play victim to your hardships, or you can embrace your challenges and make the best of them. I ask you, which do you choose? Being a martyr is easy, but owning to our challenges is proof of your strength of…
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A Prelude to the Jewish New Year
As the Jewish New Year comes upon us, so many thoughts and ideas of our past year come to light. Did we succeed in all the goals and priorities we set forth last autumn? Did we face new obstacles and challenges, allowing our ability of self-growth to develop? Have we…
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Dreams and Time
Be The Dream is a story of a vision once thought to be lost – only to be rediscovered under a veil of fear and self-doubt, uprooted with hope and inspiration. The American poet Langston Hughes said, “Hold fast to dreams, for when dreams go, life is a barren field…
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Judaism and Relationships
As a Rabbi, a paramount role since the onset of my Rabbinate was human connection and communication with temple members. Leading a service is of utmost importance as a Rabbi and a religious leader, but leadership serves beyond the bima. When a Rabbi graduates from school, we walk away with…
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Meditation Matters
Meditation, a centuries-old practice, has gained its popularity over the past few years, particularly during the pandemic. I myself never naturally acclimated to the practice of meditation in the traditional sense of sitting in one spot for a lengthy period, yet as a reform rabbi, I have found aspects of…
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A Glance At Friendships
What is a friend? How is friendship defined? What are the qualities and aesthetics that curate a friendship? Does the length of knowing one truly dictate the compounds of friendship? I ponder these questions and more as I have reached a milestone in my life where I feel sincere gratitude…
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Courage and Fear
In life, we will be faced with matters beyond our comprehension. It is how we face those challenges or life situations that ultimately express who we are as individuals. Rebbe Nachman expressed the importance of daily meditation, a way to soothe the soul and allow our bodies and minds to…
Rabbi Merle E. Singer | Words with Merle 