Daniel Geretz, at The Blogs

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Apr 10, 2022, 5:11 PM

Let Me Tell You a Story…

This upcoming Wednesday, April 13 (12 Nisan) marks the eighth yahrtzeit of my uncle Rabbi David Younger, z”l. This year, as the world struggles with conflict, I miss my uncle’s quiet wisdom and non-anxious presence, and wonder what he...

Nov 10, 2020, 8:20 AM

Reflections on my Sabta Dina’s 13th Yahrtzet

"Preventing conflicts is the work of politics; establishing peace is the work of education." - Dr. Maria Montessori In last week’s Torah portion, we read how Abraham entered into a treaty with Abimelech, king of the Philistines, in an attempt...

Jun 3, 2020, 12:58 AM

I got caught with my pants down – my white privilege saved me

A protester holds up her hand while confronting police officers during a demonstration over the death of George Floyd, Friday, May 29, 2020, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

White people take for granted the freedom to relax about making mistakes because the consequences are usually insignificant

Jan 23, 2020, 7:22 AM

Revisiting the Civil War

This impeachment ought to be a deep, soul-searching test for us all as to how well we as a nation continue to live up to our national ideals

Nov 20, 2019, 8:45 PM

Remembering my Sabta Dina z”l

When we quote those who are no longer with us, we must represent them accurately, or we hijack the conversation and diminish their greatness

Jul 26, 2019, 8:15 PM

Once again, it's the time of the Jewish year where rabbis’ thoughts turn to the destruction of Jerusalem, as well as schism within our Orthodox community. A colleague, Rabbi Jonathan Muskat, recently published a blog post where he discusses...

Jan 2, 2019, 7:36 AM

Keeping Safe from the Plague of Sexual Abuse

וְהִפְלֵיתִי֩ בַיּ֨וֹם הַה֜וּא אֶת־אֶ֣רֶץ גֹּ֗שֶׁן אֲשֶׁ֤ר עַמִּי֙ עֹמֵ֣ד עָלֶ֔יהָ לְבִלְתִּ֥י הֱיֽוֹת־שָׁ֖ם עָרֹ֑ב לְמַ֣עַן תֵּדַ֔ע כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י יְהוָ֖ה בְּקֶ֥רֶב הָאָֽרֶץ׃ וְשַׂמְתִּ֣י פְדֻ֔ת בֵּ֥ין עַמִּ֖י וּבֵ֣ין עַמֶּ֑ךָ לְמָחָ֥ר יִהְיֶ֖ה הָאֹ֥ת הַזֶּֽה׃ — שמות ח':י"ח- י"ט But on that day I will set...

Nov 9, 2018, 12:45 PM

Bringing meaning to tragedy

People cry as a law enforcement motorcade escorts the body of Ventura County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Ron Helus from the Los Robles Regional Medical Center, November 8, 2018, in Thousand Oaks, California, after a gunman opened fire Wednesday evening inside a country music bar, killing multiple people including Helus. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

This Veterans Day, honor the living vets, remember the fallen, and mourn the recent senseless losses, so the nation can start healing

Oct 31, 2018, 5:19 AM

Reflections upon My Sabta’s 11th Yahrtzeit

22 Cheshvan, which this year falls out today, October 31, 2018, marks the 11th yahrtzeit of my dear Sabta Dina Lerner. Sabta Dina led a very rich and exceptional life, and died at the age of 96. She was...

Oct 28, 2018, 2:15 PM

In heaven, God cries

Shortly after his wife died, Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch (1808-1888, Frankfurt am Main) penned an ethical will for his family. In his ethical will, Rav Hirsch expresses his late wife’s, as well as his own, joy and pride in...

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About Me

Daniel Geretz grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and is the founding rabbi of Maayan in West Orange, New Jersey. Daniel was awarded semikha by YCT Rabbinical School, and besides continuing to serve as the rabbi of Maayan, he works for the Jewish Federation of Greater Metrowest NJ as a chaplain at Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, New Jersey.

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