Rabbi Daniel Brenner

I snapped this photo on a recent airboat tour of the Everglades near Miami. Repairing damage done by Hurricane Wilma, these Muckoseegee tribesmen are reconstructing a Chickee hut on a small, gator infested island. While much has been lost as the tribe has shifted from fishing (mercury levels got too high) to casino gambling and NASCAR, it was great to see an ancient practice like Chickee building done outside the confines of the museum. My aunt Sorah, a Lubavitcher recently…

Read More Read More

Twas the War On ChristmasBy Daniel S. Brenner Twas the war on Christmas, when all through the land’holiday’ greetings of happiness were banned.Christmas cheer was spread to Sikh and Hindu,’Christ is Born’ cards sent to the ACLU. The children were nestled all snug in their beds,While visions 360 danced in their heads.And mamma on her yoga mat, and I in my jeans,Had just clicked on the TV for some more of split screens. When there on the tube there arose…

Read More Read More

Back when I was scribbling cartoons in rabbinical school, I dreamed of spinning one of my one page talmudic inspired strips into a full length color tale. Searching for a copy of R. Crumb’s Kafka book, I came across Sfar’s work and at first was paralyzed by jealousy – this is the kind of book I had hoped to draw/write someday. I was ready to hate it. But then I started reading – and Safr’s humor and brilliance won me…

Read More Read More

I spoke this week at the following event: BRIS OR BAPTISM? — AND OTHER RITUAL ISSUES FACING INTERFAITH FAMILIES What do basic rituals mean in each of our traditions? Do they determine identity, membership, salvation? Can they be delayed or chosen later in life? Can — or should — they be modified for interfaith families? Can — or should — children be given a “dual religious passport”? Join us to hear Jewish, Roman Catholic, and mainstream Protestant (Presbyterian) clergy discuss…

Read More Read More

Exploring Global Beliefs First-Hand Bronx Expeditionary Learning High School (BELHS) teacherSteve Gilman led his Global History class in studying worldreligions and philosophies this spring.Following extensive classroom work, students explored the threemonotheisms—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—in one day ofintense fieldwork.Rabbi Daniel S. Brenner, director of the Center for Multi-FaithEducation at Auburn Theological Seminary, led the students in aworkshop on religious diversity and tolerance. The rabbi alsodescribed the “Face to Face—Faith to Faith” program which initiatesdialogues between young people in conflict areas like…

Read More Read More

A quick story from Rabbi Sack’s lecture this morning: He and the Archbishop of Cantenbury are Arsenal soccer fans. They went to a game and gave blessings to the team. The team lost to Manchester United 6-2, thier worst defeat in 67 years. The London newpapers the next day declared “If this is what these religious leaders bring us then it is proof that God does not exist.” Sacks went on BBC that afternoon and said “Do not fear, my…

Read More Read More

I hope that folks in NYC will join me for the MULTIFAITH POETRY FESTIVAL. I’m honored to host: KATIE FORD, winner of a 2003 Academy of American Poets Prize, is the author of Deposition, published by Graywolf Press. Ford holds a Masters of Divinity from Harvard and her poems have appeared in Ploughshares, The Partisan Review,The Seneca Review, Poets & Writers and other journals. She teaches at Loyola University in New Orleans, and is associate poetry editor of The New…

Read More Read More

Fostering tolerance goal of multifaith discussion Monday, November 21, 2005 By TOM MEAGHER HERALD NEWSFAIRFIELD – As many North Jerseyans sat rapt in front of televisions cheering on football teams Sunday, nearly 100 others gathered to discuss a different kind of rapture.Men and women of different religions sat in the ballroom of the Wellesley Inn to listen to spiritual leaders from seven faiths discuss their perspectives on salvation. The purpose, according to the conference’s organizer, Aamir Khokhar, was to promote…

Read More Read More

I was inspired by the film Born into Brothels. In the film, street kids were given cameras to photograph their everyday wanderings. The next day I grabbed my camera and started to photograph my daily trek. Then I added a few words. Here is what I have so far.