Posted by in Uncategorized Remember today Matthew Shephard who died on October 12, 1998 after a brutal beating on October 7, 1998. He was left for dead, tied to a fence. He was beaten to death because he was a gay man. We remember him on this anniversary of his death. We pray for his soul to be at…Read more »
Posted by in Torah Commentary Parshat Bereshit Genesis 1:1 – 6:8 This week we start the reading of the Torah from the first column of the scroll. This week we read Parshat Bereshit, the very first portion in the Torah and the descriptions of creation as imagined by our ancestors. I say descriptions in the plural because there are at…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized The Jewish holy days are over for awhile and we take a deep breath into the New Year! I hope the holy days were meaningful to you and yours. We are a few weeks away from the Presidential election. On November 6 America will choose between the current President Barak Obama and his Republican challenger…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized This week we are celebrating the wonderful and joyous holiday of Sukkot. I personally love Sukkot. It is a chance to enjoy meals with friends while dining al fresco in the Sukkah! Could there be anything more glorious than dining outdoors? The themes of this holy week are the abundance of the fall harvest and…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized This is my Yom Kippur Morning Sermon delivered at Congregation Kol Ami 5773 I wish you a Gmar Chatima Tovah—a good inscription in the Book of Life. One of the images of the High Holy Days is God’s heavenly throne. In fact the Ark of the Covenant… that was held in the Holy of…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Here is this year’s (5773) Kol Nidre Sermon delivered at Congregation Kol Ami. Happy New Year. Shana Tova. As we begin this Kol Nidre evening our thoughts turn to the contemplation of our lives. For the last ten days since Rosh Hashanah we should have been engaged in a conversation with God to…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized This is m y Yizkor sermon from Yom Kippur Afternoon 5773 Yizkor 5773 -This is the time to remember Death is ever present in our lives. Even when we would rather not face it. Death is always there. Hovering just beyond and we pray hopefully far away. Sadly, death snatches our friends and family members…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized May the One who blessed our Ancestors, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Sarah Rebecca, Rachel and Leah, bless us as we enter the New Year. As we gather to come before You, Holy Majesty, help us bring a whole heart to our prayers. May we bring all that was good forward with us into the New…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Parshat Nitzavim Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20 This week we read the Torah portion right before Rosh Hashanah, Nitzavim. Shabbat Nitzavim comes literally a day before the New Year. As we read the words, we are literally standing at the edge of the New Year. The Israelites too are standing at the edge of the Promised Land. …Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized The time for apples and honey is soon here with the arrival of Rosh Hashanah. There is nothing better than dipping that crunchy sweet-tart apple in honey! Just in time for Rosh Hashanh I came across some HoneyFacts to help you appreciate the liquid gold that is symbol for our New Year! -Honeybees must tap…Read more »
Walking Humbly. Seeking Justice. Living with Hope. 