Rafael Guber

Did you know?  Little-known facts about Passover and Judaism to share at the seder table

Published on March 29, 2007

Little known facts about Judaism and Passover.

Selling Judaism: Let’s Make It Harder

Published on January 26, 2006

hen it comes to marketing Judaism, especially to young adults, it is hard to imagine a program, innovation and --dare I say it -- gimmick that has not been tried. I would like to suggest one. Let's make Judaism harder.

Exploring Past Finds Power of Choices

Published on February 6, 2003

The Hebrew language is not famous for its curse words. There is one, however, emach she'mo, meaning, "may his name be erased."

In our tradition, it is a horrible curse to be erased from human memory. For example, Hitler, emach she'mo: Even as we remember him, we remember to forget him. Those who evoke our most horrible memories are those who most deserve to be forgotten.

Happy Minyan Hits a Sour Note

Published on January 2, 2003

For the uninitiated, the happy minyan is a fairly recent American phenomenon, in which the melodies of Reb Shlomo Carlbach of blessed memory are infused into the davening.

Well, it used to be true that the melodies were infused into the davening. Now the davening is virtually one long Reb Shlomo-fest.