Passover represents a period of change. As Rabbi Nachman said, approach it without fear

By Rabbi Jennifer Lewis

As we prepare to celebrate Passover together, beginning the evening of Saturday, April 12, we also note the start of the Hebrew month of Nisan. The trees and flowers are finally blooming in Terre Haute (and Cincinnati)! The Festival of Freedom will soon be upon us.

And yet, the transitional period from Winter to Spring, beautiful as it may be, comes with its challenges. Allergy season is here, for one! But seriously, as Winter fades and Summer is on the horizon, I am reminded of the wisdom of Rabbi Nachman of Brazlov : “The world is a narrow bridge; the most important thing is not to fear at all.”

Our tradition celebrates our journey from enslavement to freedom, also a time of great uncertainty. Moving from any profound period of change—from stability to uncertainty—can be frightening. This is true whether that change is economic, political, social, personal or spiritual.

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Truth for our time: Trust sound reasoning — that feeling in your gut might just be gas

By Scott Skillman

It is generally agreed that truth is a good thing to pursue.

Truth is used to provide rationale for policy. Arguably, truth is the basis for laws, governance, and general rules for everything from corporate policies to Temple by-laws.

Mark Twain popularized the quote, “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics.” This rather obviously warns that facts and statistics can be used to push for actions that are not virtuous, but preferred. In more modern times, the concept of “truthiness” has been used to describe the distinction between facts as they are versus facts as we want them to be.

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AI sleuths Ki Tissa while Rabbi Jen notes the Purim tradition of gift-giving and good works

By Rabbi Jennifer Lewis

As we enter the joyous month of Adar, and in honor of the upside-down silliness often accompanying the holiday of Purim, I asked artificial Intelligence (a.k.a. “AI”) to come up with a Torah teaching for our next Shabbat together that combined sitting in a Starbucks and writing this month’s newsletter. Here is a snippet of the Al version:

“This week, as I sit in a cozy corner of my local Starbucks, I find myself reflecting on Parashat Ki Tisa and its timeless teachings. The bustling environment around me, filled with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the soft hum of conversations, provides an ideal backdrop for contemplating the profound messages within this portion. Ki Tissa reminds us of the essential balance between our spiritual commitments and earthly responsibilities, a theme that feels particularly relevant in our fast-paced, modem lives.”

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Support, service and guidance are key reasons why I joined the Temple. What are yours?

By Scott Skillman

People choose to become members of a religious organization for a variety of reasons. These may include the search for a sense of community, pursuit of spiritual growth or personal accountability, access to support during difficult times, the opportunity to serve others and live by a set of moral values, and to deepen their connection to faith and belief.

Essentially, they seek a group that provides a framework for living a meaningful life.

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