How to Search for Chometz

How to Search for Chometz

the foamy spray of oven cleaner
snap of rubber gloves
squeak of Brillo pad against caked on shmutz
creak of refrigerator wheels on their once a year trek
wish-washy of the mop
splish-splashy of scalding water
vrum-vrumy of the vacuum

smack – the carpet runner that leads from the front door to the back hall is taken outside and whipped like a Hebrew slave

This is how you search for chometz, humming the soundtrack of freedom.

Kareem Abdul Jabar and Mos Def in one day?

Bizarro day. First, I'm in the airport in Newark at the gate getting ready to board the plane to New Orleans and Kareem Abdul Jabar walks up behind me, slips into the elite access lane and then ducks his head under the door and heads to the plane, bent over. Then I'm at Bon Temps Roule seeing the always amazing Soul Rebels and Mos Def walks beside me, gently pushing my friend out of the way to get closer to the stage.

What are the chances-- a rabbi rubs shoulders with two black Muslim celebrities in one day???

Malcolm X must be turning in his grave.

Retro Judaism

Below is an audio only version of the talk I gave in Charlotte:

Going Retro?

The Next Generation's Search for Jewish Authenticity

From the Charlotte Observer...

This event has been rescheduled for tomorrow night -- Tuesday, March 2nd - come on down!

Rabbi Brenner to speak at Jewish Federation event
Campaign kickoff is Feb. 21One of the nation's most influential rabbis will speak at the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte’s 2010 campaign kickoff event at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 21 at Temple Israel.Rabbi Daniel Brenner, executive director of Birthrigh
By Joe Marusak
Posted: Monday, Feb. 08, 2010

One of the nation's most influential rabbis will speak at the Jewish Federation’s 2010 campaign kickoff event at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 21 at Temple Israel.

Rabbi Daniel Brenner, executive director of Birthright Israel Next, was recently named by Newsweek as among the 50 most influential rabbis in America.

Birthright Israel Next is the largest effort to foster Jewish cultural, intellectual, civic, spiritual and philanthropic life for adults ages 22 through 32.

Brenner was hired by the Birthright Israel Foundation in 2007 to launch a wide-reaching effort to engage the more than 200,000 North American program participants and their peers in Jewish communal life.

Born and raised in Charlotte, Brenner was educated at the Hebrew Academy before attending Charlotte Latin School and graduating from Myers Park High School. He has a bachelor of arts in philosophy from the University of Wisconsin and both master of arts and rabbinic degrees from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College.

In his speech, “Going Retro? The Next Generation's Search for Jewish Authenticity,” Brenner will address the future of Jewish life in America, what the next generation will bring to the table and how the Jewish community can connect and engage them.

Those attending can make their annual gift to the Jewish Federation’s 2010 Annual Campaign. The campaign enables the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte to make a difference in the lives of millions of people in Charlotte, Israel and 60 other countries.

The money supports programs that feed the hungry, care for the elderly, educate the young, provide assistance for the troubled and intervene on behalf of families in distress who are unable to meet their basic needs.

Tickets for the event are $25 each and can be purchased online at www.jewishcharlotte.org, by calling 704-944-6757 and by visiting the Federation office on Main Street at Shalom Park.

For more details about the Main Event with Rabbi Brenner, contact the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte at 704-944-6764 or www.jewishcharlotte.org.