The text we studied at our first Mussar class, August 25…
“On Practice and Patience”
We aspire to wholeness, a lofty goal indeed. How much time does it take to reach that state of wholeness? Who knows? Perhaps after forty years of practice, perhaps after fifty or sixty? A well-known saying of Rabbi Israel Salanter: “It is [...]
Archive for August, 2009
“Practice and Patience”
Posted in Uncategorized on August 28, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Domestic Partner Benefits are in the El Paso City Budget
Posted in Uncategorized on August 25, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Today was the vote on the city budget, and 42 people came out to speak for and against that element of the budget that would grant unmarried domestic partners, including gays and lesbians, the right to buy into the city’s health plan. As was the case last week, most of the opposition was religious in [...]
Another “religious” view of domestic partner benefits
Posted in Uncategorized on August 18, 2009 | 2 Comments »
I spoke at City Hall this morning, during “Call to the Public” portion of the Council meeting. These were my words:
Good morning, Mr. Mayor, Representatives, and thank you for the opportunity to speak.
I’ve come here out of a sense that the debate over whether or not to extend benefits to domestic partners who are not [...]
“Textual Harassment” on display at City Hall
Posted in Uncategorized on August 6, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Christian theologian Mary Ann Tolbert called it “textual harassment,” the misuse of the Bible to reject other human beings. That phrase comes to mind as I consider the parade of sanctimony at City Hall on Tuesday. Last week it was Syrian Rabbis making me feel ashamed for my chosen profession; this week, the shame is [...]
