By Rabbi Nicole Guzik on
July 1, 2022
I have a deep fear of bridges. More accurately, I’m scared of bridges that stand looming over large pools of water or busy highways. And in order to not extend my anxiety to the driver while I noisily breathe in and out, I request they drive as close to the middle barrier as possible (away from the ledge) and keep my eyes focused forward. Purely focusing on the end of the bridge.
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By Rabbi Nicole Guzik on
June 24, 2022
Growing up in California, I can say with some expertise that heavy rain is pretty infrequent. And when that rain arrives, the “storm” usually shows up in the fall or winter months. But a summer shower is something I rarely see.
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By Rabbi Nicole Guzik on
June 17, 2022
My morning ritual involves 15 minutes of uninterrupted coffee drinking, scrolling through emails and reading the news. On Wednesday morning, a few congregants had already reached out, asking me to check our front doorstep. Apparently, within the blocks surrounding Sinai Temple were strewn packages of hate mail. Ziplock bags blaming Jews for evil within the world and the use of typical antisemitic phrases and slurs. Our security is aware of this action and took appropriate steps to report such behavior.
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By Rabbi Nicole Guzik on
June 10, 2022
It is the last week of school in our Sinai Akiba Academy community.
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By Rabbi Nicole Guzik on
June 3, 2022
The Gottman Institute, an organization dedicated to the repairing and rebuilding of relationships, is known for “Love Maps.” Through a couple’s journey, each partner is encouraged to engage in a love map. A love map identifies the priorities, interests, dreams, and aspirations of each partner. How well did you know each other at the start of the relationship? How well do you know each other now? And a love map, while seemingly designed for couples, can be applied to other relationships. How well do we know the people in our lives? And do we put in the work to understand how they have transformed, who they are today?
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By Rabbi Nicole Guzik on
May 27, 2022
On Sunday, I spent the day at the baseball field, watching my sons enjoy their favorite sport. At my older son’s game, the opposing team used an application that called out each player’s name. And more entertaining, it played a specific song as that batter took their stance.
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By Rabbi Nicole Guzik on
May 20, 2022
This week I was honored to attend the rabbinic ordination at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies. This also marks the 13th anniversary of my own rabbinic ordination. I watched the seven newly minted rabbis look at the audience with joy, a little trepidation, and mostly, accomplishment over their completed journey.
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By Rabbi Nicole Guzik on
May 13, 2022
I recently shared the following midrash with our religious school community:
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By Rabbi Nicole Guzik on
May 6, 2022
The name Recha Freier may not sound familiar. But it should.
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By Rabbi Nicole Guzik on
April 29, 2022
It has become “tradition” to light yellow candles on Yom HaShoah, honoring the memories of those that perished in the Holocaust. What is the purpose in lighting these candles year after year?
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