Posted by in Uncategorized I don’t believe in Biblical damnation nor do I believe that the Mayan Calendar stopping in 2012 signals the end of the world. But you got to wonder a bit when it is one earthquake after another! Over the last several months the number of quakes and volcano eruptions world-wide seem more than the usual. There…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Hooray! Yesterday was Opening Day for Major League Baseball. The Yankees and the Red Sox initiated the 2010 season with last night’s game. (Wasn’t that something to see Neil Diamond singing “Sweet Caroline”?Although Steve Tyler of Aerosmith singing “God Bless America at the seventh inning stretch left poor Kate Smith spinning in her grave!) Today the…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized It’s Easter morning. My Christian friends are observing their most holy day of the year celebrating Jesus’ resurrection. For Jews this was never a good time of year. Historically the charge of Christ-killer surfaced during the days and weeks leading up to Easter day. Passion plays filled with anti-Semitism performed at this season and priests’…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized This past week nine teenagers were charged in the brutal bullying case of a recently immigrated teen from Ireland. Two of them were also charged with rape. The teen committed suicide as a result of her treatment by classmates. Phoebe Prince was only 15 years old and had only recently moved to the Western Massachusetts town of…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Tonight for Shabbat no challah bread. Tonight we make motzi on our matzah bread as we do every night of Pesach. But the contrast between the rich twisted egg bread and our simple matzah drives home even more the message of this Passover holiday. In Egypt we were the poorest segment of society. We were harassed, bullied, oppressed by harsh…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Passover week is a unique opportunity to affirm one’s Jewish identity and to feel connected to a larger community. Jews around the world observe Passover. No matter if one is of Ashkenazi or Sephardic origins, Ethiopian background or Persian, Passover customs and traditions help us relive the Exodus from Egypt and make the journey toward…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Do you count the Omer? Today is the first day we count towards the 50th day which will be the Shavuot holiday. Each day for the next seven weeks we will say a special prayer and mark off another day gone by on our calendar as we anticipate the giving of the Torah on Mt.…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Constance Leighann McMillen is a brave senior high school student that wouldn’t be quiet when her high school in Northern Mississippi told her she couldn’t bring her girlfriend to the prom. Oh and by the way, they told her “No” she could not wear a tuxedo either! Instead the Itawamba Agricultural High School cancelled the prom. I wrote…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Tonight Jews around the world sit down to their Seder meal to ritually tell the story of the Exodus from Egypt. With special foods filled with symbolism we will taste the bitterness of slavery and the sweetness of freedom with four cups of wine. So for those of you who need a last-minute great recipe to…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Okay already–enough with the birthday thing…. No really it has been a wonderful month of celebrating my special birthday. Friday evening at Shabbat was truly the icing on the cake. My wonderful special congregation gave me a birthday Shabbat that was so touching and sweet. So many Temple members turned out to celebrate. It was…Read more »
Walking Humbly. Seeking Justice. Living with Hope. 