James Stone Goodman

04/21/2026

https://jccstl.com/event/books-bagels-with-rabbi-james-stone-goodman-black-fire-white-fire/

Have brunch with the author who turned the Torah into a volume of modern poetry We’re excited to start a new season of Books and Bagels, the J’s literary brunch […]

08/13/2025

What to make of this story? It stuns even me. Nothing expected.

One thing I’ve learned is counter-intuitive. I used to never mention creative goals until I had realized them. My fourth book came out of a vow I took.

I took a vow. And I accomplished much more than I thought I was capable. Surprise.

The book is entitled Black Fire White Fire. It’s all fire, all over.

Ceremony of Heft and Lift, an Opening: Sunday, August 24th @ 4 PM, Congregation Kol Rinah. Music and conversation.

07/23/2025

https://jamesstonegoodman.substack.com/p/ac27c8e4-8010-40b1-b0c6-20f6b2e6ed9e?postPreview=paid&updated=2025-07-23T22%3A37%3A43.355Z&audience=everyone&free_preview=false&freemail=true

07/09/2025

New language

New language

Now

Redemption

06/03/2025

June 7 little babies:
From a recent prison story:
I think could I run into the wall of no that often and keep coming back? I run into small obstacles of No here and there and I can barely manage that, could I run into the wall of No as consistently as they do and still manage to sit in quiet with hope and possibility?
Our next Opening for my new book Black Fire White Fire will be at the Laughing Bear Bakery, 12 Noon, Thursday, June 7th. Laughing Bear is at 4001 Utah St. 63116, St. Louis (corner of Utah and Roger Pl.) Laughing Bear employs ex-offenders and all the bread we collect goes to the bakery. I will offer up Books and CDs to contribute to the cause.
I met the organizer of this noble effort in my prison project and I know the vision that is building this place: employing ex-offenders, teach a person to bake.
Joining me will be Rabbi Susan and a couple of excellent co-players. I hope you can join us.

04/30/2025

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1115568170372465&set=a.527398082522813¬if_id=1743565992781394¬if_t=feedback_reaction_generic&ref=notif

Our next Ceremony books and music will be at the Laughing Bear Bakery, beginning at 12 Noon, Saturday May 3rd. Laughing Bear is at 4001 Utah St. 63116, St. Louis (corner of Utah and Roger Pl).

Laughing Bear employs ex-offenders and all the bread we collect goes to the bakery. I will be offering up books and CDs.

I met the organizer of this noble effort when I taught at the prisons and I know the vision that is building this place: employing ex-offenders, teach a person to bake.

Joining me will be Rabbi Susan and a couple of excellent co-players.

Books, music, CDs, all bread goes to the bakery. jsg

04/01/2025

Our next Ceremony books and music will be at the Laughing Bear Bakery, beginning at 12 Noon, Saturday May 3rd. Laughing Bear is at 4001 Utah St. 63116, St. Louis (corner of Utah and Roger Pl).

Laughing Bear employs ex-offenders and all the bread we collect goes to the bakery. I will be offering up books and CDs.

I met the organizer of this noble effort when I taught at the prisons and I know the vision that is building this place: employing ex-offenders, teach a person to bake.

Joining me will be Rabbi Susan and a couple of excellent co-players.

Books, music, CDs, all bread goes to the bakery. jsg

01/24/2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n38gzjOxtIg

episode in which the distinction between
broken hearted-ness
an entirely appropriate response to
these challenges

and depression
paralyzing

isolating

01/24/2025

Most of my stories are in the category of I was stupid and I learned something transformative from one of my teachers and what I learned saved me. These are coming of age stories.

I also call them dying into life stories. Something has to die for something to be born. They are all over the Hebrew Bible, in the stories of our Matriarchs and Patriarchs. Mostly Matriarchs I think, the men basically go out make a living are dreamy and fall asleep on the couch at night. The women do everything. The men are absent and generally reappear at the end of the story and all of us are trying to clean up the messes they have made.

That’s another large category in my stories: we are cleaning up the messes we have made, or inherited, some of us for generations.

Thank goodness I acquire a new crowd otherwise I might do nothing but tell my own little stories and those who know me might look at each other and say, number 4, or just look at each other make a face and know the whole story before I’ve finished the second line.

Come learn with me. Wednesday evenings @ 7 PM. You can email me ([email protected]) for the Zoom link. Also Rabbi Susan and I have our own page on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/RabbisTalveGoodman/). Hit the follower button and we will appear live on that page.

We are streaming every Monday and Thursday evening you can see that on our own YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/live/97MAETeXkkA?si=73kISGyklinXUZaq).

I love you with all my broken heart. j/sg

12/12/2024

See that sleep-wagon on the road up ahead? That's me.

I am flat out taking over your soul