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Back when I was first studying religion, I found that I was drawn to the way so many faith traditions and adherents of them lifted up humility as a high value.

The lady pointed proudly towards Millie. "This is Millie: the dog that changed my life!" she said to a friend. Millie belongs to my wife and me, but she has a tremendous capacity for loving others.

The New Year may be just one flip of the calendar, but we always look at the symbolism of a new start, new beginnings, new life.

As that clean slate of a new calendar year approaches I can’t help but think about how I want to spend the next 12 months.

In the beatitudes Jesus says: "Blessed are the humble for they shall inherit the earth." To be humble in Jesus' day was either an honour or a shame.

The healing and unifying effect of singing together at ChristmasThose carolers at your door or in your church have something in common – singing together inspires and connects us. It is a healing activity.

Chanukah is over, the menorah and dreidels put away until December 22, 2019.

A few weeks ago, I attended a course from the Jewish Learning Institute called Wrestling with Faith.

Christmas has been coming since the end of September, judging by the inventory that appears in many stores at that time of year. Hallowe’en candy and Christmas cards somehow appear side by side in October.

Fifteen years ago, when we built an extension to our historic Emanu-El synagogue, we decided to put a Jewish symbol, the Star of David, in a prominent place on the building.