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I do not think that it is a coincidence that during the darkest days of the year with the least sunlight, people across the globe created festivals celebrating light. In Pittsburgh, a typical day (assuming the sun comes out) has nine hours and 25 minutes of sunlight, while on the 4th of July there will be fifteen hours of sunlight. Chanukah, Christmas, Diwali and Kwanzaa all celebrate light. It would not be...Read more...

You may be familiar with the Hebrew word for thank you: Todah. It really means “thanks” as the direct object “you” is not present. If one wanted to be precise, you would say “Ani Modeh L’cha/Lach” – I thank you. Moments can occur throughout the course of our daily lives where Todah can be used. What about thanking God? Are there moments for that as well? 

Anticipating that we might not be of a mindset to regularly thank God, as we might not be attuned to the gifts that we receive from God, the authors of the prayer book created not one, but two different “thank you” texts and placed them into the daily service, helping to guide us towards a regular “attitude of gratitude” to God. We find these texts near the conclusion of the thrice-daily Amidah. I think that it is likely that they could not decide which one to use, as they liked both, so one is used out loud, and one is used privately. The out loud version reads as follows:Read more...

Through a unique confluence in the calendar, three significant dates impacted the tone and worship experience this past Shabbat. Saturday evening, as Shabbat concluded, we began the seventh yahrtzeit (the 18th of Cheshvan). This was also the Shabbat immediately preceding Veterans’ Day. This was also the Shabbat immediately preceding the observance of Kristallnacht. Knowing that there would be no easy answer,...Read more...

It might be seven years later, but it hurts like it was yesterday. There is no preparation that one can do for the annual commemoration; rather, you hope that it is not too painful. But why do we remember? Are we afraid that if we don’t remember, we might forget? I can only say that I will never forget, for even if I would want to, 10.27 is a part of me that I cannot discard. The reminders are all around me: the...Read more...

The mood in morning minyan on Hoshana Rabbah was one of uplift and joy, something barely witnessed these past two years. Finally, all the living hostages were returned home. Amid much celebration, let us not forget the approximately 28 hostages not yet returned, the ones who died. We mourn their loss, and embrace their families, for they are part of our family. 

Despite...Read more...