Conversations with the Rabbi

How many bullets? Forget about gun laws or sentence guidelines and background checks or red flag laws. Common sense says that an 18-year-old kid buying 375 bullets should raise a red flag in anyone’s mind. Right now I am not trying to debate whether or not amending the 2nd Amendment, with laws restricting gun ownership, will end gun violence. I indeed do believe that we are suffering from far more...

An Act Of Faith? by Rabbi Scott Hausman-Weiss

The Jewish Position On Abortion by Rabbi Scott Hausman-Weiss

That said, I am not going to make a strong argument for or against the Exodus “happening.” Not to sound too glib, but for me it comes down to that question about the tree in the woods. If it falls, but there is no one to hear it, did it truly fall? That question is really about relevance. Does it matter? Does it affect our lives? Does the Exodus change the way we engage in that business deal we ar...

In case you were wondering exactly what gas-lighting is, THIS IS IT! Making a claim so outrageous that you force others to prove it wrong, thereby making them responsible for the mess you’ve created.

I write this not from the point of view of political science or as a governmental finger pointer, but more as a prayer.  I do not want to sit back and pretend that any of this is OK, “to be expected,” or “the price of admission.”  As a Prophet of the people of Israel (I am neither a Prophet nor the son of a Prophet), but at times I must step into the Prophet’s shoes and declare, “we are moving in...

It's amazing and tragic the way history repeats itself. The question then is how to avoid it? Learn from it and step in when its your moment to ensure it doesn't happen again.

823,101 dead from Covid as of today, Thursday, December 30, 2021. What must we do to help make their deaths not be in vain? Be real. Be honest. Get vaccinated. And recognize that there is NOTHING in Jewish law, tradition, lore, minhag (culture) or bubemeisse (old wives tales) that teaches or requires otherwise. Photo by Susan Nerlove

Sigd is an Ethiopian Jewish holiday older than the Talmud. Oh, yes Horatio, there is far more to our Jewish world than Ashkenaz and Sepharad.

The Goyim Defense League? It would be hilarious if it wasn't so frightening. In Austin, as the American Jewish community remembers the Tree of Life synagogue massacre in Pittsburgh, this week three years ago, the self proclaimed "GDL" hung a banner proclaiming "Vax the Jews" over the highway exit near the Jewish Community Center. Don't they know we're the most pro-vaccine religious/ethnic group in...

There are moments when we can and must recognize public leaders channeling the wisest teachings of our ancient sages. This is one of them.  In a few short weeks, we at CSK will have the great privilege of welcoming into our community the chief executive officer of Harris County, Judge Lina Hidalgo.  Elected by the voters of Harris County in 2018 at the age of 27, Judge Hidalgo  has championed and...

We're all tired. And we all yet need to transform. How do we do it? The High Holy Days are a good place to start.

Over the past year, the existential crises brought to my attention have had much more to do with one’s self and one’s partner, than one’s parents or other close, but not live-in, relatives. In many cases, distance did make the heart grow fonder. But now, yep!, masks are off. And with them, the potential for closer ties to make things a bit closer (and potentially difficult). All this is to say, as...

Israel is not an Apartheid state. If you want to have a meaningful conversation about Israel-Palestine, stop throwing stuff at us and do your homework. Any productive conversation between two people assumes that both are worthy of being heard, both are worthy of their own existence. Same is true of nations.

How do we respond to things over which we have no real control? And does our response make things better or worse for those actually suffering? Brief but daily prayer and meditation centers us, and keeps us more honest and reflective when things get rough. As our mystics taught, "There is nothing more whole than a broken heart."

Here are the words to the song: Mei libeinu anachnu sharim Mei libeinu anachnu sharim Uv’charta bachayim Uv’charta bachayim…Chayim (From our hearts we sing From our hearts we sing Choose life Choose life…life) Uv’charta bachayim, Uv’charta bachayim L’ma-an tichyeh uzchor Ki baz’chirah sod geulah Sod geulah mei libeinu (Choose life and choose life In order that you shall live For in memory lies the...

Pharaohs abound. How they turn to dust.

It is true that each of us is unique and distinct in the world. A brain, a body, organs, all part of the individual "me" we use to move through the world. And yet, without reliance, interdependence, openness and vulnerability, each of is just a blip on a radar screen until we disappear from view. We're in this together, let's act like it.

All we have truly is Hayom - Today. What are you going to make of it?

Life's tribulations can get us stuck. Humility is the jump starter - the reminder that the more appropriate response may be, "Why not me?"

A striking image - perhaps it should remain like this for a while. As a reminder of the fragility of our freedoms.

Most of us find the news of the day to be challenging, infuriating and stultifying. Sometimes frozen in place, we may wonder if there is any reason to keep trying to repair the world. Let us remember that terrific modern parable about the starfish. A child comes along and sees a beachhead filled as far as the eye can see with washed up and vulnerable starfish. And there, at the shoreline stands a...

This is a poem drawn from a yearning to respond to the 326,000 Americans thus far lost to COVID. As a Rabbi, I seek to offer folks some reflective tools(?) for coping. Its so much not enough, but nothing ever will be enough to justify the far too early passing of those we love.

Feet Up, Prayerbook (or Tablet) In Hand by Rabbi Scott Hausman-Weiss

If Not Now, When? by Rabbi Scott Hausman-Weiss