Removing Our Spiritual Chametz
by Cantor Emma Lutz שִׁבְעַת יָמִים, מַצּוֹת תֹּאכֵלוּ--אַךְ בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן, תַּשְׁבִּיתוּ שְּׂאֹר מִבָּתֵּיכֶם “For seven days you will eat unleavened bread; the first [...]
Remembering Debbie Friedman
By Cantor Emma Lutz Composer and musician Debbie Friedman brought a new voice to the Reform movement starting in the 1970's, lighting up [...]
Making Time for Torah
By Cantor Emma Lutz “Do not say, 'When I am free I will study,' for perhaps you will not become free.” -Pirkei Avot [...]
Lamentations and Hope
By Cantor Emma Lutz On Saturday evening, mourning the deaths of the eleven souls martyred at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh that [...]
Turning Now to Sukkot
By Cantor Emma Lutz After our meaningful weeks of praying together as a community during the Days of Awe, our tradition springs us [...]
Reaching Out During Elul
By Cantor Emma Lutz During this Hebrew month of Elul, our tradition creates time and space for us to prepare for the [...]
A Wholehearted Reflection for Elul
by Cantor Emma Lutz As we begin our annual preparation for the High Holy Days, we often do ourselves a disservice when we [...]
Reflections on Parshat Chukat: Feelings of Love and Loss
By Cantor Emma Lutz In this week’s Torah portion, Parshat Chukat, our leader Moses is confronted with the death of his two [...]
Sweet As Honey
by Cantor Emma Lutz The precepts of Torah are sweeter than honey and drippings of honeycombs. (Psalm 19:11) This week, we conclude [...]
The Wonders of Nature
“The mountains are calling.” -John Muir This week during the Passover break, I headed up to Mammoth for the first time to ski [...]