Suzanne Debey

ISSUES OF FAITH: Fear is dangerous

“In the world of the spirit, the opposite of love is not hate but rather it is fear” (“Omer: A Counting” Rabbi Karyn Kedar). SEEING… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: The hope in Passover

AS SPRING ARRIVES, we revel in the warmth, longer days, frogs croaking, birds singing in the early morning and new life emerging. During the dark,… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: Finding meaning and healing in the questions, not just the answers

SINCE THE FIRST century, when Jews were executed for converting others, Judaism has not been a religion interested in seeking converts. Although we know many… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: Faith and being ‘woke’

A FEW WEEKS ago, the world recognized International Holocaust Remembrance Day, reminding us of what can happen when a group is targeted as undesirable, and… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: Finding the balance of honesty and courage in our lives, leaders

PROVERBS 4:13 TEACHES “Hold fast to mussar and do not let it go.” The Jewish study of mussar is the spiritual practice of balancing ethical… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: Turning faith into action

Jewish tradition teaches us that our world stands on three things: on the Torah, on worship and on acts of kindness. The Hebrew word for… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: Antisemitism rears its ugly head, again

DURING A YOM Kippur service this year, the rabbi of a large synagogue asked his congregation how many have thought about leaving the country. Sadly,… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: Rejoicing in the season

JEWS HAVE JUST gone through a drastic transition from one of the most solemn holidays in our year, Yom Kippur, to Sukkot, one of the… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: Days of Awe lead to renewal

AS THE DAYS shorten, and the nights become cooler, we feel a twinge of sadness that another summer is passing, wishing we could hang on… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: Children can discover empathy and themselves in a tradition of reading

“There is divine beauty in learning just as there is human beauty in tolerance” (Elie Wiesel). EDUCATION HAS ALWAYS been a deeply held value in… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: Seeing light and creation through a telescope

FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL, light has been a crucial part of all religious rituals. Candles, fire, lights and awe for the sun and stars permeate all… Continue reading

POINT OF VIEW: Religious freedom ignored in abortion debate

ALONG WITH THE belief that Judaism does not claim to have the ultimate “truth” about God, the almost fanatical pursuit of justice is a fundamental… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: Finding the courage to admit wrong

“Be strong and let your heart have courage” (Joshua 1:6). In Jewish tradition, we are told we must have the courage to challenge decisions and… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: Demand truth and honesty in leadership

Throughout the Torah, we are taught the importance of honesty and justice. In Deuteronomy 16:18-2:19, the portion Shoftim (Judges) begins with a declaration of how… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: A search for change and freedom

“I love Passover because for me it is a cry against indifference, a cry for compassion” (Elie Wiesel). For the last few months, the Torah… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: Keep the victims of war in your heart

“Nation shall not rise up against nation, nor shall they practice war anymore.” Isaiah’s words are in our hearts as we watch the brutal assault… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: Kabbalah looks at the nature of souls

Judaism does not focus on what happens after we die. There is virtually nothing in the Torah about an afterlife. This teaches us that the… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: Don’t let analysis prevent needed action

As we enter a new year, Jews have begun reading the book of Exodus, which tells our story of liberation from slavery, wandering through the… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: In dark times, bring back the light

One of the favorite moments of my day is walking out to my mailbox, usually before dawn, to get the Peninsula Daily News. In the… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: Silence enables evil to thrive

We are taught in the Talmud that “The world rests on three things: justice, truth, and peace” (Avot 1:18). We are also taught that “The… Continue reading