October 20, 2023 Unimaginably long ago, our sacred story tells us, God regretted creating humanity. God had second thoughts. The creation, in just ten generations, had come a long way from the perfection of its beginning – the decline notably underway with the first murder as retold in last week’s parashah: the slaying of …
October 13, 2023 For much of this week, while watching in horror as rockets fall on Israel, and retaliation is visited upon Gaza, as death tolls rise and stories of the victims are recounted, as my friends and the children of my teachers are called up to fight, I have been at a loss for …
October 6, 2023 Tonight we’ll celebrate the completion of both the cycle of fall holidays and the cycle of Torah readings. This evening begins the dual holy day of Simchat Torah/Shemini Atzeret; Simchat Torah meaning “Joy of Torah,” and Shemini Atzeret meaning “Eighth Day of Assembly.” These holy days are observed as one day both in …
September 29, 2023 This Shabbat, we also observe the first day of the festival of Sukkot, which is called “Zman Simchateinu,” time of our rejoicing. Just a few days ago, we emerged from Yom Kippur, having immersed ourselves in the paradox that our lives are so fleeting, we are so vulnerable, and we have the power to …
September 22, 2023 Shana tova! It was wonderful to be together with so many of you over Rosh Hashanah. There was a palpable joy in the air! I hope that each of you found a point of connection with some piece of prayer, ritual, or melody. One of the great blessings of the High …
September 1, 2023 Labor Day, for most of us, means the last days of summer, one more chance for a day at the beach or wherever your happy place might be before school, work, and “real life” take hold. But the origins of Labor Day can be traced to the organizing of 19th century labor activists, …
August 25, 2023 While the start of Elul marked the end of the “dog days of summer”, there’s still time left to celebrate National Dog Month – the whole month of August! – and International Dog Day – August 26th! Our pets, and our dogs in particular, were always, and remain today, a defining …
August 18, 2023 Chodesh tov! (A good new month!) The new month of Elul begins today, which means we are exactly one month from the beginning of the new year of 5784. A new month which brings us to a new year is a rich opportunity for contemplation, reflection, the excitement and perhaps the …
August 11, 2023 This Shabbat is a time of turning and transition, as it is the Shabbat preceding the new month of Elul. Elul, the month preceding Rosh Hashanah, is meant to be a time of deep self-reflection as we move toward the new year. In a noisy world, with so much demanding our attention …
