Do As I Say, Not As I Do?
by Rabbi Nancy Kasten In his press release following the Texas State Senate’s passage of bills requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom and allowing school […]
Thinking and praying about gun violence
The direction of healing is toward one another by Rabbi Nancy Kasten Governor Greg Abbott makes it clear he will never reduce access to guns. Even after recent high-profile brutal […]
Despair, Hope, Joy: A message for this holy season.
by Rabbi Nancy Kasten Holy days in all three Abrahamic traditions overlapped in April this year. Jews celebrated Passover by retelling and embodying their redemption from slavery in Egypt at […]
The problem of religious nationalism
by Rev. Dr. George Mason Nancy’s essay this month is a heartrending and painful example of what we try to model through Faith Commons. In that same spirit, it seems […]
Nationalism or terrorism? Let’s get clear.
by Rabbi Nancy Kasten This week Jews across the globe celebrated the holiday of Purim, commemorating the Persian Jewish community’s deliverance from destruction as described in the biblical book of […]
More than food for thought
by Rabbi Nancy Kasten Hunger is pervasive in Texas, but for the most part, it’s invisible. We don’t have to guess how many Texas households lost power in the most […]
Thoughts from the Commons: On the meaning of Juneteenth
by Rabbi Nancy Kasten Last year, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law, making a holiday that originated in Galveston in 1866 into a federal […]
Thoughts from the Commons: Faith is not a spectator sport.
by Rabbi Nancy Kasten In April 2021 I joined a group from Temple Emanu-El and met (virtually) with Texas State Representative Morgan Meyer’s chief of staff to discuss several legislative […]
Thoughts from the Commons: God needs us all.
by Rabbi Nancy Kasten This story is told of the 18th century scholar and rabbi, Zusha of Hanipol: Reb Zusha was lying on his deathbed surrounded by his disciples. He […]
Resolution Revolutions
In a CBS poll conducted by telephone in December, 29% of Americans said they were making New Year’s resolutions, down from 43% last year. What’s behind this notable decline? No […]