Suggestions for Calm?

There is so much unrest and dis-ease in the world.  London has been in flames and chaos and turmoil.  Food is running out in Somalia and a severe famine and drought are turning things upside down.   Protests in the streets of Israel for affordable housing brought out almost 20 percent of the nation.  Massacres…Read more »

Prayer community

What makes a worshiping community?  Is it the Rabbi and Cantor “presenting” services each time?  Or is it a group of committed people who come sincerely together to pray, to study and to support each other?  Is it a combination of these things?  Is it people both lay and professional Jews who work together to create sacred…Read more »

The Ten Commandments Round 2

Parshat V’Etchanan Deuteronomy  3:23 -7:11 Rabbi Denise L. Eger       This week’s Shabbat is known as Shabbat Nachamu- the Sabbath of Comfort or Consolation because it is the Shabbat that follows Tisha B’av.  Its name comes from the Haftarah portion from Isaiah which begins, “Nachamu Nachamu et ami… Comfort, Comfort My People.  The…Read more »

Oneness today and every day

Thinking today about the Shema prayer.  It is in this week’s portion, Veetchanan in Deuteronomy.  Hear O Israel Adonai is Your God, Adonai is One.  These words have guided and shaped the Jewish people.  These words  form some of my earliest childhood memories -as my parents taught me to say the Shema every night before…Read more »

The 9th of Av

On this 9th of Av, Jewish national day of mourning the tragedies that befell our people, I take pride in our accomplishments.  We are a people that have endured! We are a people that have contributed much to the human family! We are a people that is willing to adapt and renew itself in the…Read more »

Rabban Yochanan Ben Zakkai

Here is a wonderful story of redemption for Tisha B’av Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai Saves Torah Annette Labovitz The three-year Roman siege of Yerushalayim portended doom for Jewish nationalism. The inhabitants of the Holy City were divided; some were wearied from the hopelessness of the situation; others, although refusing to surrender, fought among themselves. Hunger…Read more »

Reimagining Tisha B’av

I am so excited to be back on the bima!  After a meaningful and study filled Sabbatical in Israel I am looking forward to celebrating Shabbat with my Kol Ami community! This Shabbat is Shabbat Chazon, the Sabbath prior to Tisha B’Av (This coming Monday eve and Tuesday).  Tisha B’Av (the 9th of Av) commemorates…Read more »