What's in a Name?

Welcome to my new blog!

After blogging for 6 years under a different site (that got pulled because I was using an account from my last pulpit), I am excited to begin this page with a blank slate as we approach the month of Elul.

But before we begin that, a word about the name of this blog:

My favorite verse in the entire Bible comes from the book of Micah 6:8b. It reads, "Do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly before your God," which I call the superhero credo of the Bible. This simple instruction is the greatest triplet of tasks we have as human beings. If we are to behave as superheroes on earth, this is what we must do.

Do justice. We cannot simply be fans of justice. We have to engage, stand up for the rights of the orphan, the widow, the poor, the underserved. Speak out for those without a voice. Act using our knowledge of Torah, our passion for human rights, do not sit idly by. Do.

Love mercy. The foil to justice is mercy. When tempered with mercy, our deeds of justice help make us righteous. It is difficult for humans to have a perfect balance of mercy and justice, but when we get close, we are getting close to God's version of justice.

Walk humbly before your God. Know that everything we do, we do for our sense of faith. When we remain ever aware of the higher power that manifests itself through us, then we are truly being the best we can possibly be.

So why is it out of order?

Partly because, "Do, Love, Walk" didn't sound as good. But mostly because this all stems from love. Love of Judaism, love of Torah, love of friends and family--without the love it wouldn't be worthwhile to do anything or walk with anyone. It is the love that inspires us to keep moving forward with our duties as people and as Jews. So love comes first.

Welcome to the page, and welcome on this journey of loving deeds, or merciful justice, and of acting as instruments of God so that we can truly be heroes.