Blog

We are on the cusp of the week that none of us look forward to, as we observe the third commemoration of the massacre at the Tree of Life. One of the questions that I most frequently get asked is: how are you and the community doing? My general answer is that when viewed from 30,000 feet, I would hope that there is an upward trend towards healing. When viewed under a microscope, that same line...Read more...

The pain came back. I knew that it would, and that there is no pain medication to take it away. It is the pain of being a survivor, of witnessing the worst horror in the history of the American Jewish community, and of the daily bombardment from all around the world through newspapers, television, radio, books and movies. Once the recording starts playing in my head as I lay in bed, it is...Read more...

For many who have observed all of the Fall Holidays, there is usually a bit of relief that they are finally OVER!  Hopefully the weather will be nice and the Sukkah can be disassembled and stored away before it rains. The sheer volume, intensity and pace of sermon writing, Torah reading preparation, review of prayers specific to each holiday and incredible number of festive meals will now...Read more...

While some might revel in the fact that this first month of the Jewish year features twelve holiday days out of thirty days, others might suggest that it is a bit of an overdose, as for some, once Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur have concluded, they are over-Judaized, and need to take a break. The unfortunate victim of that is the festival of Sukkot, which begins on the 15th day of the month of...Read more...

What words can I share after crafting all of my holiday sermons, something that does not repeat the themes that I am focusing upon? Every new year begins with the promise of hope, that the year will be a better one, filled with joy, laughter and good health. Despite our desires to be in a post-COVID era, we are not. In fact, some of the protocols that we had thought were retired have returned,...Read more...