This week’s parashah, Vayeitzei, comes from the book of Genesis which means “And he left.” This portion details Jacob’s journey from Beersheba to Haran, including his vision of the ladder to heaven, his time working in servitude for his uncle Laban, and his marriages to Leah and Rachel. When I had the privilege to drash Continue Reading »
L’dor vador, from generation to generation, our people have been thoughtful and deliberate about ensuring the continuity of leadership as a sacred trust. Moshe Rabbeinu didn’t merely announce that Joshua would be his successor. He assembled the entire community and, in the presence of God, laid his hands upon Joshua’s head and blessed him. To Continue Reading »
The following remarks were shared by Gary Cohen at our Erev Shabbat Service on Friday, November 7. Shabbat shalom everyone. For those of you who do not know me, my name is Gary Cohen, and if you do know me you may not recognize me without my mask. Tonight, I took off my mask to Continue Reading »
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 »
