Dear Friends, Since last Shabbat, we have had moments to listen and learn. We heard from African American Christian clergy on Sunday, and from a Jewish historian on Black-Jewish relations on Wednesday. We have uncertain days ahead, not unlike our ancestors in the wilderness. Click here for the written version of my dvar Torah Continue Reading »
Dear Friends, There have been no easy weeks since COVID-19 sent us to safety and shelter, but this has been the most difficult by far. If it seems that I am the last rabbi you know to make a public statement, that’s because I have tried to use my ears (and eyes) more Continue Reading »
Dear Friends, Last night, we had a late-night early bird special: we studied Torah until midnight as a Pre-kun Leil Shavuot, since we couldn’t have our annual Tikkun Leil Shavuot in person. Staying up late to learn Torah on Zoom was out of the ordinary, but it actually gave us a sense of normalcy, even if Continue Reading »
Dear Friends, Everyone learns differently. So again this Shabbat, my weekly message of Torah is coming at you in two formats. For those who prefer to read the written word, click here. Or, you can watch me deliver it by clicking here. Each week, I think of music that relates to recent events, or the calendar, or the Continue Reading »
Dear Friends, Everyone learns differently. So for this Shabbat, my weekly message of Torah is coming at you in two formats. For those who prefer to read the written word, click here. Or, you can watch me deliver it in For your musical enjoyment this week, here are a few songs that helped me through this Continue Reading »
Dear friends, We are now at the midpoint of the month of Iyyar. Two months ago, it was Purim, our last full-scale public gathering before we began to shelter at home. You may have noticed that in recent Shabbat emails I have been counting the weeks of our physical separation consciously. In my Shabbat Continue Reading »
Dear Friends, I hope that you had a meaningful Pesah, and that you are enjoying hametz again in good health. We are entering what are known as the Israeli High Holy Days. This week, we commemorate Yom HaShoah veHagevurah; the following week, we will mourn for Israel’s fallen soliders and terror victims, and then celebrate her Continue Reading »
Dear Friends, I hope that you are staying safe, and well, and managing as best as one can. You can find my dvar Torah for this Shabbat here. Since it’s longer in this format than my usual teaser, I am sending it as an attachment instead of in the body of this message. Since Elijah Continue Reading »
As we enter our third virtual Shabbat, I hope that you are finding the shul’s resources and reach-out to be comforting. You can find my Shabbat dvar-Torah here. Since I write about a song, and we could all use some uplifting music, click here for the music video and here for the lyrics. Please join us for davening this eveningLikrat Continue Reading »
After Mordechai convinces her that she must risk her life by going to see the king uninvited, Esther dresses in royalty and enters his room. What ensues in chapter 5 of Megillat Esther sets the scene for the dramatic reversal of fortunes that is one of the main narratives in the text. As we continue Continue Reading »
