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the ministry of presence

06/07/2023 07:23:28 PM

Jun7

Rabbi Jeffrey Myers

What is a friend? The more I thought about it the more challenging I found to be precise, but I will try. To me a friend is someone that you want in your life and that person desires the same. Now for the dictionary. The first definition is: a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard. That seems to be a rather good definition. Why do I raise it? Because a friend came...Read more...

I Want Shalom

06/01/2023 10:00:00 AM

Jun1

Rabbi Jeffrey Myers

Finally. We’ve waited 4 ½ years, but now has our waiting turned to dread? Is it unusual or unreasonable to really want something to happen, but then when it happens you don’t want it? 

I will not be speaking nor writing about the trial while it is in progress, but rather will focus on our collective mental health and caring for each other. These...Read more...

Introducing Lily

05/25/2023 10:00:13 AM

May25

Rabbi Jeffrey Myers

It was 7:57PM Monday evening, and my wife and I were about to leave the Waiting Room. I said “Let’s wait another few minutes”. One minute later our son-in-law texted that we could come up to room 7.  We knocked on the door and a voice answered “You could come in”. We opened the door, moved aside the curtain, and amidst all of the activity, to our left on a special table being attended to by a nurse was our newly born first...Read more...

negative momentum

05/18/2023 10:39:22 AM

May18

Rabbi Jeffrey Myers

It is time to revisit a math lesson from long ago. Let’s take the number -5. If we add the number -3 to it, will the answer be -2, -8, or none of the above? The correct answer would be -8. When you add a negative number to another negative number that number increases. The only way to eliminate a negative number is to add to it a positive number. So too with the H word, as the continued rise...Read more...

we remember

05/11/2023 10:41:42 AM

May11

Rabbi Jeffrey Myers

Last week was just a tough week.  I knew it was always possible, if not inevitable.  I sat for two different media interviews, and the questions that I have become accustomed to answering were asked.  “How is your congregation doing?” “What is it like to go through this?” I tried to answer them politely. I hope that I succeeded. I also attended a reception, and...Read more...

proud

05/04/2023 09:29:38 AM

May4

Rabbi Jeffrey Myers

How many of you know that this month is designated “Jewish American Heritage Month”? I did a bit of research, and learned that in May of 2004, the 350th anniversary of American Jewish history was celebrated, organized by the Commission for Commemorating 350 Years of American Jewish History. In 2006, President George Bush proclaimed May as “Jewish American Heritage Month”, and this has...Read more...

finally

04/27/2023 09:30:35 AM

Apr27

Rabbi Jeffrey Myers

It’s finally here, the moment that we have been waiting for too long. Jury selection began on Monday, April 24, and depending upon how long it takes to seat a jury of twelve with six alternates, the trial will then commence. I’m not sure how we are supposed to feel at this moment. Relief? Anger? Sadness? Frustration? Retraumatized? Most likely it is a jumble of all of them, and I think...Read more...

An Attitude of Gratitude Redux

04/20/2023 10:55:22 AM

Apr20

Rabbi Jeffrey Myers

A deluge measured in feet. Nickel-sized hail. 82 degrees. Flights delayed for hours, if not days.  35 degrees. Possible snow. What an adventure it was. I took a 48-jaunt to Florida to celebrate my mother’s 90th birthday. Little did I know that this would include what some are calling the storm of the millennium. Just my luck, right? The airport had been closed because of, if I read it...Read more...

hungry?

04/14/2023 07:10:13 AM

Apr14

Rabbi Jeffrey Myers

I hope that your Sedarim were joyous, meaningful and tasty. I had the privilege of breaking matza with Muslims and Christians the first night, which also marked the confluence of our holidays at the same time, something that occurs once every 33 years. We had quite a number of deep discussions, which is what the Seder is supposed to encourage, with the Four Questions being the impetus. One...Read more...

my favorite part

04/05/2023 09:10:11 AM

Apr5

Rabbi Jeffrey Myers

There is something powerful about the experience of the Passover Seder that transcends generations. Food, family, and ancient texts create generations of memories that carry across the ages. So many of us devote a great deal of time to the meal, even though that is only one step of fourteen that comprise the Seder. There is much more that we can do to enhance the other thirteen steps to elevate...Read more...

Sat, September 23 2023 8 Tishrei 5784