When I was a first year Rabbinical student studying in Jerusalem quite a few of my friends were vegetarians. I scoffed. Not out loud, of course – but most definitely to myself. Where will it end, I thought. Just because we cannot hear the head of lettuce scream when it’s cut, should we care for Continue Reading »
At the conclusion of Yom Kippur we hammered a nail into a two by four. The Central Conference of American Rabbis encourages all Reform Jews to do this even before the break fast as a way to express eagerness to celebrate the next holiday coming up – Sukkot. Though this dramatic and delightful ritual, which Continue Reading »
I am sorry to have missed being in person with you at Temple Beth-El for Kol Nidrei and Yom Kippur. As you may have heard, I was on “mom duty” with our daughter Nora, who needed (unexpected) orthopedic surgery. Thank you for all your good wishes – Nora is doing much better. Thank you for Continue Reading »
This year Simchat Torah will be sweet but bitter, as well. A year ago on the holiday, the worst massacre of Jews took place since the Holocaust. Hostages still remain in Gaza, their fate unknown. Though we can be heartened that the leader of Hamas is no longer a part of this world, we cannot Continue Reading »
One year ago today over 1,200 people, almost all Israelis, were killed by Hamas terrorists, a massacre that caused war to break out in the Middle East. Still the fighting continues with tens of thousands of people already killed. How to respond? To its credit Jewish Federation has been sponsoring events to remember the victims Continue Reading »
Let us pray for peace in Israel. All eyes have turned to the mid-East. It is astonishing that 15-16 million Jews on this planet can be so the center of the world’s attention. Even when there are no missile attacks on Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, the State of Israel seems always to be on the Continue Reading »
In a remarkable historical note we read in the Talmud that “The early generations of pious men would wait one hour, pray one hour, then wait one hour again.” (Berkhot 33a) In other words, those who were pious would spend an hour preparing for prayer, then pray, then take another hour to turn their thoughts Continue Reading »
An important note about our annual food drive and it starts with a question: Which is more important – the Day of Atonement or the Sabbath? Answer? The Sabbath. Yom Kippur may be the holy day when most Jews show up to Temple but it is not mentioned in the Ten Commandments. Shabbat is. So Continue Reading »
Fishing is a popular outdoors activity that enables people of all ages to appreciate the peace and beauty of the natural environment. However, when fishing line is left behind, the discarded fishing line is not only unsightly, but it can cause real damage, by entangling birds, fish, turtles, and other animals. This can be lethal, Continue Reading »
Where was I on 9/12, the day after the planes struck the Towers? I led a congregation on Staten Island, NY and was putting together a prayer service, deciding whether or not to sing “God Bless America.” Our son, Ben had gone to his high school in Manhattan the day before and would not come Continue Reading »
