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Resetting the Table Rabbi Cassi Kail rabbikail@bethelsp.org I grew up in a mixed family. My mother was a democrat, and my father, a republican. Conversations around the dinner table often erupted into passionate debate over governmental policies, economics, and religion, especially when we had guests. My house defied the age-old rule never to talk politics […]
This Hanukkah, Be the Light Rabbi Cassi Kail rabbikail@bethelsp.org Nine months into the pandemic, every one of us has felt the impact. Somehow, around Thanksgiving, the emotional toll feels particularly pronounced. After my fourth conversation in one day with community members struggling from grief, loneliness, and isolation, I hung up the phone and thought, “Hanukkah […]
Self Care Rabbi Cassi Kail rabbikail@bethelsp.org I write this article as the month of Heshvan is beginning. Just after the four major holidays that occur in quick succession during the High Holy Day season, the month of Heshvan represents a change of pace. The Talmud refers to this month as Mar Heshvan; the word Mar […]
One mitzvah leads to another – A contagion worth spreading On Rosh Hashanah, many of us took part in a ritual called Tashlich, in which we toss our metaphorical sins into the water. Whether communally or individually, we took time to reflect on the year’s ups and downs, our missteps, and the choices we plan […]
Change is Possible, After All Derek Black was born into a family of white nationalists. His father was not only the grandmaster of the Ku Klux Klan, but the creator of the popular white supremacist website Stormfront. At a young age, he was primed to be a future leader in the Ku Klux Klan. By […]
L’chaim: TO LIFE! Rosh Hashanah 5781/2020 Rabbi Cassi Kail At the end of March, I received a call from my dad. He was worried about my mother’s deteriorating health. She had been struggling with COVID-19 for several days, and it was clear that her condition was declining rapidly. Dad had just put my mother in […]
Responding to Loneliness Erev Rosh Hashanah 5781/2020 Rabbi Cassi Kail It’s been six months since the first stay-at-home orders were issued in Los Angeles county. Many of us forget what friends and family look like without zoom boxes around their heads, or facemasks covering their noses and mouths. We work on zoom. We learn on […]
Birchat HaGomel: Blessing of Safety Rabbi Cassi Kail rabbikail@bethelsp.org Nearly six months into our new reality, we are acutely aware of how much we have lost. Many of us know people who have died or become seriously ill from COVID-19. We lost security, routine, and the opportunity to gather and embrace one another. We’ve lost […]
Elul Reflections Rabbi Cassi Kail rabbikail@bethelsp.org The final month of Jewish year is about to begin. On August 21, we will usher in the Hebrew month of Elul. The words High Holy Days often conjure up images of Rosh HaShanah celebrations, and the solemn atonement of Yom Kippur. While these two holidays are certainly highlights […]
Standing Against Racial Injustice Rabbi Cassi Kail rabbikail@bethelsp.org Throughout my rabbinate, I have always valued interfaith partnership and community connections. When my tenure began, I was delighted to join the San Pedro Faith Consortium, a cooperative effort of five congregations working to make a positive difference in our community. Rabbi Briskin had been one of […]
