Rabbi Mychal Copeland, Author at 18Doors

Two women with their arms around one another smiling.

Proud to be LGBTQI and Interfaith

By Rabbi Mychal Copeland

Rabbi Mychal Copeland served as director of 18Doors/Bay Area until June, 2017 and is now the rabbi at Sha’ar...

Identity, LGBTQ, Professional Development, Professionals Stories

How Jewish Do I Need to Be…If I’m Not Actually Jewish?

By Rabbi Mychal Copeland

I met Jeremy and Lisa at a coffee shop to plan their upcoming wedding. We had covered most of the usual pre-ceremony...

Identity, Race, Religion

Why a Raisin Has Never Tasted So Good

By Rabbi Mychal Copeland

I always spend some time as Rabbi in Residence at Camp Tawonga in California each summer, and it is always...

Camp, Parenting, Religion, Spirituality

Should An Officiant Or Friend Marry You?

By Rabbi Mychal Copeland

You have chosen the date, the place, the guest list. But who will officiate at your ceremony? A family member?...

Officiant, Wedding Planning, Weddings

Thank You, Source of Stuff: A Gratitude Practice for Kids

By Rabbi Mychal Copeland

When my kids were young, I introduced them to the practice of saying the Hebrew blessing, the motzi, before...

Parenting, Parenting Tips and Advice, Parenting Toolbox, Young Kids

My Wife Eats Cereal in The Garage

By Rabbi Mychal Copeland

We have been through 20 Passovers together. My wife does pretty well with the eating restrictions but somewhere...

Marriage, Parenting, Parenting Passover, Passover, Relationships

Does Spirituality Have to Mean God?

By Rabbi Mychal Copeland

Last week, my son started wondering about the edge of the universe. What is at the end? Is there an end? What...

Parenting Challenges, Parenting Stories, Religious Education, Young Kids

Why We Should Come Out as Interfaith Professionals on College Campuses

By Rabbi Mychal Copeland

Last month, I sat with 25 people who gathered over breakfast to talk about being part of interfaith families....

Professional Development

Did Zooey Deschanel Convert For Her Husband? Is That a Bad Thing?

By Rabbi Mychal Copeland

Is converting to Judaism “for” someone so bad after all? As an avid follower of the hit show, New Girl, I couldn’t...

Pop Culture

My Mom and Her Hanukkah Angels

By Rabbi Mychal Copeland

Friends lighting the menorah at Mychal’s family’s Hanukkah party circa 1986 When I was growing up,...

Hanukkah, Hanukkah & Christmas, Hanukkah Rituals, Parenting Hanukkah

When sacred text hurts others, how do we apologize?

By Rabbi Mychal Copeland

This essay was reprinted with permission from J. Weekly. Earlier this month I was the rabbi at the Fellowship...

Religion, Spirituality

Let’s Celebrate Fellow Travelers on Shavuot

By Rabbi Mychal Copeland

This post is based on an article by Rabbi Copeland that originally appeared on jweekly.com There have always...

Shavuot

Walk The Talk: Parenting as a Role Model

By Rabbi Mychal Copeland

My kid taught me a good lesson today. I was pulling out of our driveway as the usual flood of people were walking...

Parenting, Parenting Stories

Who Gets to Criticize Your Religion?

By Rabbi Mychal Copeland

I remember the day I introduced our kids to The Prince of Egypt. I loved this movie, and I was excited...

Blessings, Religion, Religious Life, Spirituality, Synagogue

Is there a connection between Easter eggs and the afikomen?

By Rabbi Mychal Copeland

When I was little, my mom made a huge deal of the Passover afikomen hunt. The prize for finding the broken pieces...

Easter, Jewish Holidays, Parenting Passover, Passover, Passover Rituals, Seder

God and The Tooth Fairy

By Rabbi Mychal Copeland

My 7-year-old lost another tooth last night. Since we have been through many of these over the last couple of...

God, Parenting

Time to Junk Jewish Jargon?

By Rabbi Mychal Copeland

You’re at a social or family gathering when someone starts throwing around a bunch of Jewish gobblygook you...

Identity, Religion & Spirituality, Synagogue

A Hanukkah Giving Ritual Takes the Competition Out of The Season

By Rabbi Mychal Copeland

Years ago, I struggled with how I was going to do Hanukkah in our home. Christmas was already set. We visit...

Hanukkah, Hanukkah & Christmas, Parenting, Parenting Hanukkah

Do Parents Need To Present A United Front About God?

By Rabbi Mychal Copeland

Mychal's kids playing at the beach Many parents avoid being divided on issues big and small with our kids. We...

Parenting, Parenting Stories, Religion, Religious Education

Why are We Terrified to Teach Our Kids about Religion?

By Rabbi Mychal Copeland

When it comes to religion, many parents don’t want to choose for their kids. Their hesitation isn’t just about...

New Parents, Parenting, Parenting Tips and Advice, Religion & Spirituality, Religious Education, Young Kids

Sukkot Reminds Us to Treat All Visitors as Honored Guests

By Rabbi Mychal Copeland

This blog post was reprinted with permission from j., the Jewish news weekly of Northern California. I...

Advocacy, Impact, Other Holidays, Professional Development

Ask the Big Questions

By Rabbi Mychal Copeland

When I was young, my sister taught me one of the most important things I needed to know about the High Holy...

Jewish Holidays Food, Main Dish, Multicultural Food, Passover Food, Recipes

Jewish Genes: Are They in Our DNA or in Our Stories?

By Rabbi Mychal Copeland

Where are you from? It seems an innocent enough question. But as our families become more and more diverse,...

Identity, Parenting, Race, Religion

Amidst Fighting…Intermarried Jews and Muslims Express Their Hopes for Peace

By Rabbi Mychal Copeland

Do you need a little lift amidst the conflict in the Middle East? A growing movement of Tweeters are telling...

Marriage, Parenting, Professionals Stories, Relationships

Author: Rabbi Mychal Copeland

Proud to be LGBTQI and Interfaith

How Jewish Do I Need to Be…If I’m Not Actually Jewish?

Why a Raisin Has Never Tasted So Good

Should An Officiant Or Friend Marry You?

Thank You, Source of Stuff: A Gratitude Practice for Kids

My Wife Eats Cereal in The Garage

Does Spirituality Have to Mean God?

Why We Should Come Out as Interfaith Professionals on College Campuses

Did Zooey Deschanel Convert For Her Husband? Is That a Bad Thing?

My Mom and Her Hanukkah Angels

When sacred text hurts others, how do we apologize?

Let’s Celebrate Fellow Travelers on Shavuot

Walk The Talk: Parenting as a Role Model

Who Gets to Criticize Your Religion?

Is there a connection between Easter eggs and the afikomen?

God and The Tooth Fairy

Time to Junk Jewish Jargon?

A Hanukkah Giving Ritual Takes the Competition Out of The Season

Do Parents Need To Present A United Front About God?

Why are We Terrified to Teach Our Kids about Religion?

Sukkot Reminds Us to Treat All Visitors as Honored Guests

Ask the Big Questions

Jewish Genes: Are They in Our DNA or in Our Stories?

Amidst Fighting…Intermarried Jews and Muslims Express Their Hopes for Peace

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