Today would have been my mom’s 93rd birthday!  She was born in 1917.  Her parents were immigrants. Her mom Lena from the Austro-Hungarian Empire  and her father, David from France by way of Poland.   My mom was the older sister. Her younger sister is still very much alive! (Thank Goodness!). I do think of…Read more »

What is a pet peeve?  Here is the wikipedia definition: A pet peeve (or pet hate) is a minor annoyance that an individual identifies as particularly annoying to them, to a greater degree than others may find it.    I have many.  What are yours?  In particular I am annoyed when I spend more than…Read more »

Since this is Labor Day weekend we ought to pause a moment to think about all those who want to work but can’t. I mean all those who are presently unemployed or underemployed in our country.   There is always some unemployment.  But I do have to say in my half century I don’t remember…Read more »

Saturday night is Selichot.  It is a special time of reflection as the month of Elul draws to an end and the New Year is upon us.  It is a mystical time of turning, repentance and hope that God will bless us and hear our prayers at this season. Symbolic of this change is re-dressing…Read more »

Parsha Nitzavim-Vayelech Deuteronomy 29:9 – 31:30 We are counting down.   This is the last Shabbat and the last Torah portion of 5770.  We read this double portion Nitzavim-Vayelech as the year draw to a close.  We are reminded in these closing verses of the book of Deuteronomy that we can turn away from our sins…Read more »

September 1! Summer’s over!  Put away the white shoes and time to get back in the real game.   Okay maybe we have a couple of days left til Labor Day on Monday.  But there is four months left til 2011 and only a few days until the Jewish New Year begins.   So the…Read more »

So it is happening.  The numbers are moving and even members of the GOP can see the future.  That future includes equality for gay and lesbian Americans too.  The train has left the station. The Washington Post reported how some leaders of the Republican Party are changing their public stance on gay marriage.   Read…Read more »

Yes USC beats UCLA again.  Not on the football field or even in basketball. This time in the US News and World Reports top College rankings  of 2011 that came out this weekend.   USC is ranked higher than UCLA. USC at 23 and UCLA at 25.   Click here to see the whole list.…Read more »

I want to say Happy Birthday Gilad.  Today is Gilad Shalit’s  fourth birthday in captivity.  An Israeli soldier held by Hamas somewhere in the Gaza strip I want to wish him Happy Birthday. But this is anything but happy.  Gilad has become a terrible pawn in an awful situation.   He was just standing guard…Read more »

Welcome Ken Mehlman!  So the former Republican National Chairman has announced publicly what has been whispered about for a long time that he is gay.   So as the rabbi of the gays and lesbians of Los Angeles and West Hollywood let me welcome you to the community publicly!  Mr. Mehlman made his revelation in an interview…Read more »