Author Archives: Rabbi Barbara Symons

Sites vs. Sights

Posted on by Rabbi Barbara Symons

The tragedy happening in Afghanistan is on many levels. It is hard to know how to help, though personally, we decided to make a donation to HIAS and keep our eyes open as to how to help if Afghani refugees … Continue reading

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Approaching the Starting Line

Posted on by Rabbi Barbara Symons

Watching the Olympics was breath taking. Perhaps this year, without spectators, especially highlighted the athleticism, the team spirit, the grace of athletes who not only won but those who did not gain the podium. We saw both patriotism and participation … Continue reading

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Silence vs. A Moment of Silence

Posted on by Rabbi Barbara Symons

Ecclesiastes says, “There is a time for silence and a time to speak.” Agreed. There is a time for silence. Silence allows reflection; silence can speak louder than words. And while the boundaries of silence can be infinite, a moment … Continue reading

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I Vote Yes!

Posted on by Rabbi Barbara Symons

Should Germany have a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council? So what does the Security Council do? Per www.un.org: The Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. It has 15 Members, and … Continue reading

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Finding Time

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The most elusive thing we have, the thing that we cannot slow down or pay more money for or invent is, of course, time. As much as the Covid interruption might have confused time–since many of us, myself included, often … Continue reading

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A Model of Democracy!

Posted on by Rabbi Barbara Symons

Israel keeps getting labeled with generalizations and exaggerations and falsehoods. Just sign up for CAMERA or Honest Reporting, and based on the work they do as watchdog organizations, you will see how Israel gets, at minimum a bad rap and … Continue reading

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Climbing the Ladder

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I spoke with someone today who shared that she has been in recovery from alcoholism for 40 years. In addition to a decades-long full career as a singer songwriter, during the lock-down of Covid she worked to became a recovery … Continue reading

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Living in the Present

Posted on by Rabbi Barbara Symons

Thirteen months ago, I shared what it was like to return from the future. I had just traveled to New York as part of my sabbatical travels and was in Westchester County, the epicenter of American Covid-spread at the time. … Continue reading

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There are Stars on the Ground

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On Sunday, we brought our 8th-10th graders to the Keeping Tabs Holocaust Structure in Squirrel Hill. We gave them three minutes of quiet time in each of the points of the Jewish star plus a few places outside of the … Continue reading

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Personal Inoculations

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Primarily still working from home, I am not out a lot and certainly not out in crowds. Except for last Friday. That was when I returned to Squirrel Hill to get my second vaccine. Due to social distancing, the line … Continue reading

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