November 15, 2024

“We’re quick to judge Sarah” — who after finally giving birth to Isaac, insists Abram cast out his concubine Hagar and their son Ishmael — “but Sarah drew the short straw,” argues Rabbi Rena Rifkin. We demonize her for one cruel act “without understanding this moment in the context of her life,” she says. “If we treat others in our world the way we have treated Sarah, then we, like Sarah and Hagar, will forever be pitted against one another…”

October 4, 2024

“Glass is not fragile in all ways just because it is fragile in one way,” says Rabbi Rena Rifkin, reflecting on her recent visit to the Corning Museum of Glass. And like glass, the Jewish community has shown tremendous resilience throughout history. “We have survived not only because of our strength, but because we have learned how to adapt to best fit the needs of our people,” she says. This new year, may we “truly take notice of our own people and all that we can offer to one another and the world.”

August 16, 2024

Rabbi Rena Rifkin recalls a late night spent with the 10-year-olds in URJ Eisner Camp’s Bunk 13, answering their “poignant, perceptive, and powerful” questions about Israel. “Our children have so many thoughts and feelings,” says Rabbi Rifkin, who worries: “When is the next time those campers will have the chance to ask those important questions? And who is the next adult they’ll trust to get a real response?”

April 5, 2024

Rabbi Rena Rifkin shares the complex emotions she encountered on her recent trip to Israel.  “I notice that there is a sadness and a rawness in the air,” she observed. “The colors of the Israeli sunset feel muted.” But despite it all, she leaves with only one question: “When can I get back on a plane and return to the place that my heart holds dear?”

December 22, 2023

“Did you know that many of the most popular Christmas songs were written by Jews?” asks Rabbi Rena Rifkin. “Once the chanukiyot have become nothing but a pile of colorful wax, it’s hard to find light.” But “we can be a spark for someone else’s candle… on Christmas, let us help others to bring a glow to the world.”

November 3, 2023

Rabbi Rena Rifkin wonders how we can be grateful for being Jewish “when we are tucking our magen David necklaces into our T-shirts, using fake last names on our uber accounts and even taking down mezuzot from our front doors…” Although we have every right to be scared, “we must fight back the fear and fight for the joy” that Judaism offers us each day.

September 15, 2023

“Sometimes, we get caught up in what we’ve lost,” says Rabbi Rena Rifkin. “But when we do that, we forget to give kavod to what’s really important… The only thing we really have to worry about losing is ourselves.”

August 25, 2023

After a summer spent admiring bonsai trees and traversing a boulder field, Rabbi Rena Rifkin brought home two lessons: “The strongest trees are ones that can bend in the wind,” but you also need sure footing. “Our relationships, our community, our underlying beliefs — these are our rocks.”

June 2, 2023

As Pride Month begins, Rabbi Rena Rifkin wonders “What is pride anyway? What does it mean to be proud of yourself and your identity? How does one develop pride? And where and when should we put it on display?”

March 24, 2023

What do non-binary people do at the Western Wall? “I think it feels like you would have to quiet yourself a little bit to be there,” one of our Rabbi Rena Rifkin’s colleagues said. Reflecting on silenced Holocaust survivors, our children’s quiet traumas, and the catharsis built-in to the Passover Seder, she says, “These quiet times may be fleeting or they may last longer, but there is a lingering effect…”

October 4, 2022

“Asking for forgiveness is hard because it means admitting we were wrong,” says Rabbi Rena Rifkin on Erev Yom Kippur. “And yet, Yom Kippur commands us to do just that. Once we truly admit our fault, then we can start to find forgiveness…”

September 30, 2022

During Rosh Hashanah, “I stopped in my office in between services to check on the Yankee games,” admits Rabbi Rena Rifkin. And now she finds that “the space between Aaron Judge’s 61st and 62nd home runs is similar to the 10 Days of Awe”: we reflect on how far we’ve come and wonder how much farther we can go…

September 25, 2022

On the High Holy Days, “we use this time to refocus and to recenter ourselves,” says Rabbi Rena Rifkin. “Our lives are full of small gems. But on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we are reminded to see the entire cave..”

August 26, 2022

“We Jews gather,” says Rabbi Rena Rifkin. “Sure, we can feel God with us anywhere, but it is here — at synagogue — that we keep a reminder of the Holy Ark of the Covenant, God’s dwelling place among our wandering ancestors.”

May 6, 2022

“The time to speak is now,” says Rabbi Rena Rifkin, in response to the leaked Supreme Court opinion overturning Roe v. Wade. “Jewish tradition allows for — and even sometimes requires — a woman to have an abortion. It is simply an enactment of the value of pikuach nefesh, the obligation to preserve human life.”

April 29, 2022

“I know it feels impossible: To keep up with every tragedy and important cause. To help as much as we can,” says Rabbi Rena Rifkin. “That is our burden as Jews who have woven the words ‘Never Forget’ into the fabric of our being. Our memory must spur us to act — and to truly act, we must be fueled by memory.”

October 1, 2021

“There is disorder all around us. How can we create order when we are surrounded by chaos?” asks Rabbi Rena Rifkin. “Through mitzvot, we explore how to behave and interact with our world. Like God’s creating order through creation, we can create a sense of order by going through the obligations of our tradition.”

September 20, 2021

“The sukkah is not meant to be permanent. It is not meant to last longer than the festival itself,” says Rabbi Rena Rifkin on Erev Sukkot. “But its impermanence reminds us to enjoy, honor and celebrate everything that is permanent in our lives.”

September 15, 2021

“I have a little secret: I’m not perfect. We’ve all made mistakes,” said Rabbi Rifkin on Erev Yom Kippur. “We are not perfect — and God is not even perfect. On Yom Kippur we ask for forgiveness, but we also give forgiveness.”

September 6, 2021

For the new year, Rabbi Rena Rifkin shares one of her favorite Jewish tales about how we can truly fill every corner of our lives.

August 6, 2021

When Rabbi Rena Rifkin set out to solve a 1,500-piece puzzle she was dismayed to find a broken piece. “One night, we managed to fit it into the puzzle and by the next morning, I could no longer see where it was,” she says. “Look around: everywhere we see people who are trying to hide broken pieces. We aren’t meant to be perfect, which leaves us the chance to work to see our own beauty and enhance it.”

September 4, 2020

“I am done with fear — with feeling suffocated and as if I were wearing a straitjacket,” says Rabbi Rena Rifkin. “It’s stunning to watch our fear turn into rampant negativity. Fear ends conversation, clouds all rational thought, stifles progress and destroys hope. I would rather use hope to find ways to push forward.”

March 6, 2020

“Whether we want it to be or not, what we wear is important,” says Rabbi Rena Rifkin. “The Megillah is careful to tell us that, after fasting for three days, ‘Esther wore royal clothing.’ Who is Esther? She is Hadassah; she is a Jew; and she is the queen. Sometimes our attire helps us reveal what is really inside.”

January 3, 2020

Rabbi Rena Rifkin welcomes the first Shabbat of a new decade and reminds us that “change doesn’t happen overnight.” If we want to make to make real change, “we must plant seeds and continue to work on them over many years.”

October 4, 2019

On Shabbat Shuva, Rabbi Rena Rifkin asked: What makes you who you are? And who gets to decide? “The importance of knowing oneself and being true to oneself is not something that our tradition stays silent about. Claiming our identity, knowing ourselves and declaring it to the world is our constant struggle.”

August 9, 2019

Rabbi Rena Rifkin reflects on Tisha B’Av, the day set aside for communal mourning and commemorating the disasters – including the destruction of both temples – that befell our people throughout history. She explains how in the midst of tragedy, we can still find light. “The opposite of war isn’t peace, it’s creation. When we are broken down and left without all our comforts, we rebuild.”

May 17, 2019

With all our differences, what makes us one Jewish people? Rabbi Rena Rifkin has always believed that what connects us “is the core belief and understanding that we must protect one another and care for others.” That’s why she’s so troubled by Jewish individuals who are claiming religious exemptions from vaccinations amid a serious outbreak of measles.

November 16, 2018

“Belief is significant and essential for our constantly transitioning lives.” Rabbi Rena Rifkin reflects on the story of Jacob and her own parenting experiences.

November 9, 2018

“I wanted to talk about how Tuesday’s election gave me a revived sense of hope and possibility…but I’m back to feeling defeated and deflated. May we, like Jacob and Esau, find our way back to one another, and ourselves, someday soon.” Our Rabbi Rena Rifkin draws parallels between our country’s climate and the relationship between Jacob and Esau in this week’s parasha.

August 24, 2018

“As Jews, we carefully coordinate each element on our plate in order to observe kashrut laws. But just as our tradition is obsessed with details, it also knows there is great beauty in the final product – we must find a way to pay attention to both and to honor both.” Rabbi Rena Rifkin explores how we are defined by both tiniest facets of our stories, and the sum of those parts.

August 17, 2018

“Social justice is an important Jewish value and a mitzvah we are called to do over and over again. It reminds us that we are God’s partners in the work of creation. It is profound is when children realize they can do this work, and there is no greater task than helping them to find their voice and their power.” Rabbi Rena Rifkin discusses the pursuit of justice in Jewish tradition, and how we are all capable of making a difference.

July 13, 2018

“The Supreme Court decision that gave women the power to choose what was best for themselves is once again in jeopardy. Roe v. Wade is about the right to choose, the right to agency.” Rabbi Rena Rifkin tackles choice and equality with this week’s parsha, Matot-Masei, which tells us that women’s vows can be vetoed by their fathers or husbands.

June 29, 2018

“Our traditions implore us to remember that justice is not merely about being fair in one’s dealings.” As we prepare for Independence Day celebrations, Rabbi Rena Rifkin inspires us to fight through overwhelming obstacles in pursuit of fairness and equality.