Dear Temple Beth-El, We are back into the swing of things this Shabbat, with our holiday season in the rearview mirror. We enter into Parashat Noach yet again, and perhaps not without some trepidation–a flood is coming, after all; here’s hoping you have a nice stockpile of gopher wood. In seriousness though, if you really Continue Reading »
Dear Temple Beth-El, I’m pleased to let you know that all of my High Holy Day sermons, as well as the inspiring messages delivered by our lay leaders, are now able to be viewed at our website, via this link. As a rabbi, it is a privilege to be able to address our community each Continue Reading »
Dear Temple Beth-El, Two years ago today on the Jewish calendar began the most difficult period in the history of the State of Israel, and a dark time for global Jewry. We mourned and prayed and hoped for this day for two years of war, over and over again invoking God as “Matir Asurim,” “Freer Continue Reading »
Dear Temple Beth-El, This Shabbat is our final Shabbat of this past year’s Torah reading cycle, and would otherwise have been the Shabbat on which we read from V’zot Hab’rachah, the very last parashah in our Torah that details the blessings Moses gave the tribes and then his ultimate passing as he looked out into Continue Reading »
Dear Temple Beth-El, Tonight we will enter into the holiest day of our calendar year–Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Before I get to my yontif message, a request: If you have a shofar and would like to blow it to help us end Yom Kippur, please bring it with you to Ne’ilah services! We Continue Reading »
Dear Temple Beth-El, We have finally arrived at the end of 5785, and in just a few short hours will welcome 5786. What a year it has been for us all! We’ve seen both great, even existential challenges for our People both here in the U.S. and in Israel, and major transition for our synagogue Continue Reading »
Dear Temple Beth-El, This is an exciting Shabbat. We are prepped and ready for a festive and joyous Back-to-Shul Barbecue tonight, with tables and chairs set up out on our patio and grills ready to fire. We can’t wait to celebrate our Family Shabbat and welcome so many of our people to Temple Beth-El! We Continue Reading »
Dear Temple Beth-El, As we continue further into Elul and begin getting back to our “regularly scheduled programming” (weekly Shabbat morning services resume tomorrow morning), and as I continue, along with the Cantor, to plan for the High Holy Days, I have been meditating on my journey through this last year. 5785 was an impactful Continue Reading »
Dear Temple Beth-El, Tonight we welcome our first Shabbat of the month of Elul, and begin our season of Teshuvah in earnest together. There is a custom of sounding the shofar daily throughout the month of Elul, so if you are a Shofar blower, now is a great time to start practicing and re-strengthening your Continue Reading »
Dear Temple Beth-El, Believe it or not, Summer is winding down and Elul is almost upon us. Next Monday is Rosh Chodesh Elul, and with the start of the month of Elul come our various modes and methods of preparing for the High Holy Days. Elul is a month of introspection and self-evaluation, or, as Continue Reading »
