Leora Kling Perkins, at The Blogs

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Mar 8, 2023, 10:09 PM

How to Remember – T’tzavveh 5783

My fifth graders often ask me about the historical accuracy of the stories we are learning about from the Tanakh, the bible. Did the walls of Jericho really come down? Was David definitely a king of Israel? Did the...

Feb 28, 2023, 12:04 AM

Holy Spaces, Holy Connections – T’rumah 5783

I have always loved spending time outdoors, and particularly in beautiful wilderness spaces. I find that they help me tap into a sense of wonder and appreciation of the world we live in. I have a distinct memory of...

Feb 22, 2023, 9:23 PM

Seeing Those Around Us – Mishpatim 5783

When Justine Yan was in high school, she didn’t feel comfortable in many social situations. She had doubts about her ability to make friends, and so she didn’t try. Walking through the halls between classes, she was usually by...

Nov 30, 2022, 9:52 PM

A Sense of Wonder

Years ago, I was working at Camp Ramah in the Rockies, where electives include horseback riding, wilderness survival, and mountain biking. One of my jobs was to help the staff leading activities to incorporate Jewish learning and experiences into...

Oct 19, 2022, 10:00 PM

Judging Ourselves and Others

Yehudit Samet was asked by a friend for a recommendation for a wedding photographer. She gave her friend the name of a photographer she knew, of whom she always thought quite highly. Her friend said, “I heard he’s unreliable....

Oct 13, 2022, 5:56 AM

Feeling Big and Small

This summer, I was transfixed by a series of photographs. Many of you saw them as well. They have a black background, with bright lights that sparkle. Some of the lights are made of bright colors, in beautiful formations,...

Sep 29, 2022, 6:41 AM

A storm descends on a town, and the downpour turns into a flood. As the waters rise, an old man stays in his house, surrounded by water, and prays. An emergency alert goes out: “Flood warning! Evacuate now!” "No," says...

Jun 27, 2022, 10:56 PM

Shlah Lekha Sally Priesand

Pre-School Graduation (https://nara.getarchive.net/amp/media/preschool-graduation-d2a7ef)

We’re nearing the end of graduation season. Many of us have attended graduations recently for high schools, colleges, or graduate schools. Even my daughter recently received a “diploma” for her “graduation” from the infant classroom at her daycare, as...

Mar 31, 2022, 7:07 PM

You Are What You Eat

As many of you know, I love to listen to podcasts, and one of the podcasts that I listen to is Israel Story, an Israeli podcast that tells stories from people who represent a large range of experiences in...

Mar 22, 2022, 5:22 PM

100 Years of Bat Mitzvah

Exactly 100 years ago today, something happened that had never happened before in this country, as far as we know. On March 18, 1922, a twelve year old girl went to synagogue with her family. Her parents, grandparents, and...

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About Me

The Assistant Rabbi at Temple Emunah in Lexington, MA, Rabbi Leora Kling Perkins is deeply committed to building and sustaining flourishing Jewish communities inspired by the Jewish tradition. Originally from Needham, MA, Rabbi Kling Perkins is a graduate of Brandeis University and earned rabbinic ordination and an M.A. in Jewish education from the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) in New York.