Blog

As more and more people return to in-person services, I have heard many remark that the virtual services were just not for them. I certainly can understand, because the ideal way to pray is with a minyan of people all in the same room at the same time. Is it not interesting that I had to define minyan, for in the past it was clear what I meant? It led me to think quite a bit about the word...Read more...

The thing about taking a long drive is that there is ample opportunity to be alone with your thoughts without interruptions. While I possibly constructed a High Holy Day sermon in my head, this year has been one of thinking about the big picture questions.  Why am I here, and not solely why God sent me to Pittsburgh, but my presence on this planet? Is my presence about acquiring a...Read more...

We held our first in-person services this past Shabbat, and while I did not have any trepidation about holding a service unmasked with other inoculated people who were also unmasked, I was not sure how people would respond to the opportunity to meet in person. Would fear keep people away? Would the fact that we have not met in person for sixteen months have made religious services superfluous? Is...Read more...

Permit me to tell you about an amazing group of colleagues that I am very fond of – Cantors. This week I have been attending a virtual conference, which is difficult under any set of circumstances, but even more difficult when your colleagues live around the world. What should be the starting time for an event? If we regularly hold evening concerts at 7:00PM, does that not exclude Israeli...Read more...

All of us have subscriptions and contracts that have annual renewal dates. Whether it is insurance policies, vehicle registrations, credit cards, or media, much of what we engage in has an annual renewal date, and most likely an increase in the rate charged. We can lament all we want about the continued increase in costs for these items, as their percent increases are generally not...Read more...