Monitoring and Combating Anti-Semitism Shabbat Parashat Va’era Shabbat Mevarekhim HaChodesh January 17, 2015 – 26 Tevet 5775 Dear Friends, My friend and colleague, Rabbi Tom Cohen, is the rabbi of a Conservative/Masorti congregation in Paris. His wife, Rabbi Pauline Bebe, is the rabbi of a Reform congregation in Paris. Many years ago, I traveled to Continue Reading »
Masks and Motives… Shabbat Parashat Shemot January 10, 2015 – 19 Tevet 5775 Dear Friends, Masks can be so much fun. But, depending on the circumstances, they can also be anything but fun. Earlier this week, three masked gunmen raided the Paris offices of the newspaper Charlie Hebdo. With their faces well hidden beneath Continue Reading »
A Grandparent’s Blessing – then and now! Shabbat Parashat Vayechi January 3, 2015 – 12 Tevet 5775 Dear Friends, Not all of us are lucky enough to know our grandparents. And if we do, not all of us have a close relationship with them. Especially in our day and age, when families are often spread Continue Reading »
Combat Hunger and Increase the Light! Shabbat Parashat Mikkets Shabbat Mevarekhim HaChodesh December 20, 2014 – 28 Kislev 5775 Dear Friends, This week at Rodef Sholom Temple, as we light the Chanukah candles and participate in HELP week, we will have the sacred opportunity to combat hunger and to increase the light in the world Continue Reading »
Happy Chanukah! Shabbat Parashat Vayeshev December 13, 2014 – 21 Kislev 5775 Dear Friends, Chanukah is almost here and I take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a very happy Chanukah! The Maccabees had a dream. They wished for a society in which one might study, live, and worship freely as a Continue Reading »
Going the Extra Mile for that Blessing: A Torah Message for Managing Difficult Encounters Shabbat Parashat Vayishlach December 6, 2014 – 14 Kislev 5775 Dear Friends, I hope you will join us at services this Shabbat as we celebrate the bat mitzvah of Jordan Phillips. Mazal Tov to Jordan and to her entire family! While Continue Reading »
Morning Prayer: A Spiritual Stand Shabbat Parashat Vayetze November 29, 2014 – 7 Kislev 5775 Dear Friends, The Talmud teaches us to pray three times a day, and suggests that each of our three daily prayers were instituted by one of our three patriarchs. Our patriarch Abraham is said to have instituted shacharit – Continue Reading »
Thoughts for Thanksgiving Shabbat Parashat Toledot Shabbat Mevarekhim HaChodesh November 22, 2014 – 29 Heshvan 5775 Dear Friends, I share with you my Facebook post of this past week: “Just when there are intimations of possible peace in Jerusalem, terrorists strike again, killing innocent Jews praying in a synagogue in Jerusalem. It is time for Continue Reading »
Pathways to Peace Shabbat Parashat Chayei Sarah November 15, 2014 – 22 Heshvan 5775 Dear Friends, Three world leaders met this week to discuss plans for de-escalating the recent tensions surrounding the Temple Mount in Jerusalem – the Prime Minister of Israel, the King of Jordan, and the Secretary of State of the United States. Continue Reading »
Treasured Teachings of Torah Shabbat Parashat Vayera November 8, 2014 – 15 Heshvan 5775 Dear Friends, I hope you will join us for services this Shabbat as we celebrate the bar mitzvah of Reilly David. Mazal Tov to Reilly and to his entire family! Our weekly Torah portion, Vayera, is replete with well known Continue Reading »
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