The Truth is… Shabbat Parashat Shof’tim August 22, 2015 – 7 Elul 5775 Dear Friends, How many times have we used the phrase: “The truth is…”? Well, the truth is…that truth is often elusive. Our weekly Torah portion, Shof’tim [Judges], reminds us of the importance of truth as a foundational value in our Continue Reading »
Dear Friends, As we move into the new Jewish month of Elul, we begin preparing ourselves for the upcoming High Holy Days that will usher in the new Jewish year of 5776. During the month of Elul, we will sound the shofar toward the end of each of our weekday morning minyan services. This sound Continue Reading »
As Elul Approaches… Shabbat Parashat Ekev Shabbat Mevarekhim HaChodesh August 8, 2015 – 23 Av 5775 Dear Friends, It is good to be back and to have the opportunity to catch up with so many wonderful folks at Rodef Sholom Temple! And, thank you and yasher koach [may you have continued strength] to all the Continue Reading »
Charleston On My Mind Shabbat Parashat Chukkat June 27, 2015 – 10 Tammuz 5775 Dear Friends, Charleston, South Carolina – such a beautiful city. So much history. So much sadness today. But, at the same time, so much determination and so much hope. Charleston is on my mind. I am sure you are watching Continue Reading »
Transitions: A Journey of Discovery Shabbat Parashat Shelach-Lekha Shabbat Mevarekhim HaChodesh June 13, 2015 – 26 Sivan 5775 Dear Friends, We are all on a journey. Sometimes, the journey of life is smooth. Sometimes, we find ourselves “in transition” with all the accompanying ambiguity, discomfort, and uncertainty that is engendered by such times. That is Continue Reading »
A Different Light on the Subject Shabbat Parashat Beha’a’lotecha June 5, 2015 – 19 Sivan 5775 Dear Friends, This Friday night we will be celebrating the Confirmation of John Brooks and of Nir Diskin. Mazal Tov to our confirmands and to their entire families! John and Nir will be leading our service. And, they will Continue Reading »
Depth, Discernment and Ethics Shabbat Parashat Naso May 30, 2015 – 12 Sivan 5775 Dear Friends, We have been blessed with a Torah which our Sages likened to a “tree of life.” We have been taught that mitzvoth were given to us to help us strengthen the foundations of our soul and of our relationships. Continue Reading »
Contemporary Curses Shabbat Parashat B’har-B’chukotai Shabbat Mevarekhim HaChodesh May 16, 2015 – 27 Iyyar 5775 Dear Friends, The first curse mentioned in the long list of curses enumerated in this week’s double Torah portion, should we as a people fail to walk in God’s ways, is the curse of: “Beh’ha’la”. In our Eitz Hayim chumash, Continue Reading »
Dilemmas and Discussions Shabbat Parashat Emor May 8, 2015 – 20 Iyyar 5775 Dear Friends, “How can the Torah say that?!” The beauty of our tradition is that we are invited to ask even the most difficult of questions. For example, we are invited to wonder how Torah can teach us that all human Continue Reading »
Silver Linings Shabbat Parashat Tazria-Metsora April 25, 2015 – 6 Iyyar 5775 Dear Friends, The greatness of the teachings of Torah is that they do not shrink from reality. Torah is, of course, filled with lofty, beautiful and uplifting stories and images. But, alongside those uplifting images, Torah also relates to the difficult passages in Continue Reading »
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