-
Subscribe
Subscribed
Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
This coming week we commemorate the Tenth of Tevet – Asarah BeTevet. This fast day is observed in mourning of the… READ MORE
The nature of politics in a democratic society is preserving the tension between our wanting to be the same and… READ MORE
What would Yosef’s life have looked like if instead of looking after the flocks with his older brothers he was… READ MORE
Shabbat is the time during which we as the Nation of Yisrael invest in the family of Yisrael with our families. READ MORE
But now, please forgive their sin—but if not, then erase me out of the book you have written.
~ Exodus 32:32
My name is Rabbi Avi Katz Orlow. I have always had a deep love for the Jewish people and making the world a better place. It was while building community in the Former Soviet Union for YUSSR that I realized the transformative power of being a rabbi. After spending time learning in Israel, I moved to New York to be a charter student in Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, the Open Orthodox Seminary. After graduating in 2004 until 2008 I served as the Rabbi and ran the program at St. Louis Hillel at Washington University. Now I have the great pleasure of thinking about how Judaism is seriously fun. In my mind I am up at camp every day in my work at the Foundation for Jewish Camp. My wife, Cantor Adina Frydman, and I are the proud parents of Yadid, Yishama, Emunah, and Libi.
Said to Myself
When my son Yadid was four years old he came home from daycare and reported to me that he got into trouble. He got put into timeout for throwing sand at another child. Yadid said,” Myself said to myself, I do not want to be in timeout. Myself said to my cry, I do not want to cry”. And with that we started a conversation about his conscious life. It seemed only fitting to continue that conversation with a blog with the same name.
אָמַרְתִּי אֲנִי בְּלִבִּי
My son spoke in the words of Ecclesiastes, “I said in my heart: ‘Come now, I will try you with mirth, and enjoy pleasure’; and, behold, this also was vanity.” (Kohelet 2:1) My mission is to model a life that is personally meaningful, universally relevant, and distinctly Jewish. I aspire to be frank and to speak of Torah in real life.
Said to Myself 