This Rosh Hashanah is my last as the Senior Rabbi of Congregation Kol Ami as I will retire next July 2023. Here is my sermon for Day 1 of Rosh HaShanah 5783.
Kadima: Forward
Posted by in Uncategorized Tag: teshuvah
Posted by in Uncategorized Choosy Mothers Choose… a sermon for Erev Rosh Hashanah 5776
Posted by in fatih, High Holy Days, judaism, Relgion, Sermon, tikkun olam Shanah Tovah u’metukah. I wish you each a happy and sweet New Year. Do you like creamy peanut butter or crunchy? That was always the debate in my house growing up. My mother was big on creamy JIF peanut butter. You remember. Choosy mothers choose JIF? She was big on the dreaded Concord grape jelly. …Read more »
Awaken My Soul: A sermon for Erev Rosh Hashanah
Posted by in judaism, tikkun olam Shana Tovah Wow! Wasn’t this something. Thank you Cantor and Jeremy and the Kol Ami New Year’s Band for such an uplifting beginning to our Rosh Hashanah 5775! We all need awakening for the New Year. Tonight we can say goodbye to the tzoris of last year. For the last few months I just…Read more »
Self-reflection and Self-awareness
Posted by in Uncategorized How are you using this week? The days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are a solemn time in our tradition. The days of this week are meant to be part of the journey toward atonement and purification for this year. If you have been hurtling toward Yom Kippur without taking a few moments of…Read more »
No Status Apologies
Posted by in Uncategorized We are entering the last hours of 5771. And soon the Jewish New Year will be here. I am fascinated by the number of posts and status updates on facebook, linkedin and the like that are blanket apologies for behavior. New Year’s greetings abound. But I have been noticing this year more than last many…Read more »
Selichot
Posted by in Uncategorized Saturday night is Selichot. It is the way we really make sure that we have done some of the initial preparations of our spirit and soul as we enter the New Year. We recite familiar High Holy Day prayers like the Al Cheyt and Avinu Malkeinu. We hear the shofar sounds. These begin to ready…Read more »
Return-Nitazvim
Posted by in Uncategorized Parshat Nitzavim-Vayelech Deuteronomy 29:9-31:30 We always read Parshat Nitzavim on the Shabbat before Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. This short double Torah portion echoes the themes of this season. If we return in repentance, teshuvah to God, then God will open our hearts and embrace us. In Jewish tradition God is the Force in…Read more »
Chodesh Tov
Posted by in Uncategorized Today the Jewish month of Elul begins. This is the end and the beginning. It is the last month of 5771. The end of the year. But the beginning of the process of cheshbon hanefesh which is the deep introspection of the soul. We are to begin the process of repentance now. Not wait for…Read more »
A gift of tears: Kol Nidre 5771
Posted by in Uncategorized Below is my Kol Nidre Sermon for 5771. Tonight-I want to tell you a story. A midrash. Midrash is a form of Jewish story that helps us better understand the Torah, that helps us better understand life. And on this holy night of Kol Nidre, when we seek out God’s forgiveness and the forgiveness of…Read more »
Walking Humbly. Seeking Justice. Living with Hope. 