Rocky Mountain HAI

I am sharing my story for the first time. And it is about time. I have been here since the beginning, even before the beginning. What does that mean, you ask? It means that I am not some descendant of ancient race; I am the antecedent of an ancient race. I am the Mateh מטה, I was taken from the

Hi friends, family and fans! We have moved Reb Bahir's blog to reside ON his website at RockyMountainHai.com We would really love to have you come visit us over there and subscribe, if you feel like it! Thank you so much for your continued support of Rocky Mountain Hai! -- Talia & Reb Bahir

From Where I Sit My Dear Friends Many may argue the facts behind the fable. Some will tell you that its origins are rooted within the mists of mythology; god and goddess. Marduk and Ishtar joining in ascendancy and certainly there are elements of that. Traditionalists will tell you that the story

ODE TO A SCRAP OF PAPER I was once a Tree Not the lined, scribbled upon scrap you see now I was tall and strong and beautiful root to leaf, bough to bough Now I am flat with printed lines, ordinary in every way. But I was once a tree Not a folded, ripped and stained messenger of words I was a pil

The Menorah and the Hanukiah They sat side by side, almost twins. But their emotions were as dissimilar as their shape was similar. “I am so excited!” chortled the Hanukiah. “It is almost that time of year. Soon the house will be filled with the smell of Latkes and the warmth of my favorite h

FROM WHERE I SITMy Dear FriendsThere is something about building a Sukkah that opens the door to who we are. Our Sukkah building reveals the blueprints to our mind, our heart and our soul. Some people spend a great deal of money buying pre-fab Sukkot. They look at the directions and fit piece A i

IN THE BEGINNNINGDuring the month of Elul, we seek to rebalance through forgiveness from others. On Rosh HaShanah, we stand before G in awe and awareness. On Yom Kippur, we bow the head and humble the heart seeking, in our souls, forgiveness from G.Four days later, with the fullness of the moon, w

My Dear FriendsOn Erev Rosh HaShanah I began a trilogy of sermons that I called "The path less travelled." On that night I spoke of the origins of our people, our tribal path. On Rosh HaShanah day I continued with the tests and lessons of movement. As a people we have moved through time and spac

My Dear Friends:Last night I spoke to you of the warrior's path, the path less travelled. Today I speak to you of what has informed and formed our path less travelled. They are the tests and lessons.I was once asked to give a graduation speech for an Episcopal parochial school. Faced with this dau

My Dear FriendsIt has been a custom in my family for over 60 years on the High Holydays to give a trilogy of sermons wrapped around a single theme. I am happy and honored to continue this tradition for these High and Holy Days in our new and renewed congregation, the Bleeker Street Synagogue. The