Rabbi Matt Goldberg

And I think that there's something about, you know, when we offer light, when we, you know, opt into community, we don't lose the light that we have. You know, like a shamash on a menorah or a chanukiah, we can offer light and we are not diminished. Yeah.

And I think that there's something about, you know, when we offer light, when we, you know, opt into community, we don't lose the light that we have. You know, like a shamash on a menorah or a chanukiah, we can offer light and we are not diminished. Yeah.

And I think that that's one of the, I don't know, I love that about being together with people that we can, you know, I can offer you something, whether again, it's song or words or, you know, let's go for a walk and see the lights or whatever else it is. And we can both then find spirituality. And I don't sacrifice my own by offering it to the community.

And I think that that's one of the, I don't know, I love that about being together with people that we can, you know, I can offer you something, whether again, it's song or words or, you know, let's go for a walk and see the lights or whatever else it is. And we can both then find spirituality. And I don't sacrifice my own by offering it to the community.

Yes, yes. I mean, I don't know if it's kosher to quote just a little bit of scripture, but two very important verses to me, one from the Torah and one from later in the Bible. The first says, behold, God was between you and me all along, or God is between you and me forever. That's from Samuel in the Bible.

Yes, yes. I mean, I don't know if it's kosher to quote just a little bit of scripture, but two very important verses to me, one from the Torah and one from later in the Bible. The first says, behold, God was between you and me all along, or God is between you and me forever. That's from Samuel in the Bible.

And I take that to mean that God, and I mean, again, we could do a whole show on what is God, but divinity, spirituality is found specifically between people, not isolated, not when I remove myself from the community, but specifically when I seek out relationship, right?

And I take that to mean that God, and I mean, again, we could do a whole show on what is God, but divinity, spirituality is found specifically between people, not isolated, not when I remove myself from the community, but specifically when I seek out relationship, right?

And there's a verse we're going to read in the Torah portion coming up in a few weeks here that says, the Hebrew starts, God is speaking and saying, the Israelites should build this temple, the Mishkan, a place of prayer and sacrifice. They will build it and I will dwell among them, meaning among the people. So again, It's not saying build for me this temple and I will dwell there.

And there's a verse we're going to read in the Torah portion coming up in a few weeks here that says, the Hebrew starts, God is speaking and saying, the Israelites should build this temple, the Mishkan, a place of prayer and sacrifice. They will build it and I will dwell among them, meaning among the people. So again, It's not saying build for me this temple and I will dwell there.

Right, don't build it for yourself. And it's not saying God will dwell there in the temple you've built, but again, God will dwell among the people. So when we embark on a communal activity, whether it is building a physical space or whether it is getting together to process a terrible, jarring tragedy in our country or in our community,

Right, don't build it for yourself. And it's not saying God will dwell there in the temple you've built, but again, God will dwell among the people. So when we embark on a communal activity, whether it is building a physical space or whether it is getting together to process a terrible, jarring tragedy in our country or in our community,

that is where we can find, again, connection, where we can find meaning, where we can perhaps find God, if that's what we're looking for. So I think that not only are you right, but I think that our tradition has shown, you know, people have been saying that and exploring that for thousands of years.

that is where we can find, again, connection, where we can find meaning, where we can perhaps find God, if that's what we're looking for. So I think that not only are you right, but I think that our tradition has shown, you know, people have been saying that and exploring that for thousands of years.

that I'm, I'm constantly learning. So I'm, I'm finished my six years of rabbinical school and a lot. And I, did a lot of homework and wrote a lot of papers and a lot of reading, but I am not finished learning by any means. I had a teacher who thought that rabbinical school should be a 15 or 20 year program.

that I'm, I'm constantly learning. So I'm, I'm finished my six years of rabbinical school and a lot. And I, did a lot of homework and wrote a lot of papers and a lot of reading, but I am not finished learning by any means. I had a teacher who thought that rabbinical school should be a 15 or 20 year program.

And so I don't know if he was just trying to get a rise out of us or if he meant it, but it worked if that's what he was doing. So I'm, you know, humbly and hopefully still answering your question. I'm not... totally sure I think that in you know reflecting on on my life up until now uh there's been both religion and spirituality, sometimes at the same time, and sometimes not.

And so I don't know if he was just trying to get a rise out of us or if he meant it, but it worked if that's what he was doing. So I'm, you know, humbly and hopefully still answering your question. I'm not... totally sure I think that in you know reflecting on on my life up until now uh there's been both religion and spirituality, sometimes at the same time, and sometimes not.

I see a lot of my religious practice, whether that's, you know, praying, you know, in Jewish tradition, many of us traditionally pray three times a day, or that's in observance of holidays and holidays. Keeping to the calendar, the Hebrew calendar, the religious calendar, there's religious practice that is not necessarily related to what I consider spirituality.

I see a lot of my religious practice, whether that's, you know, praying, you know, in Jewish tradition, many of us traditionally pray three times a day, or that's in observance of holidays and holidays. Keeping to the calendar, the Hebrew calendar, the religious calendar, there's religious practice that is not necessarily related to what I consider spirituality.