Blog

I had the distinct privilege and honor this past Monday to speak at the prestigious Chautauqua Institution, as the keynote speaker to kick off the ninth and final week there, with the subject being “resilience”. While I had heard of Chautauqua Institution before, I had never been there, and I’m delighted that I had the opportunity. It is a gated community situated on the beautiful shores...Read more...

We began the month of Elul this past Sunday evening, which positions us in the countdown period that concludes with the 1st of Tishrei, Rosh Hashanah 5782. During this concluding month of the year, we add Psalm 27 both morning and evening, and the shofar is sounded at the conclusion of morning services except for Shabbat.

Have you ever...Read more...

I had the privilege of being invited by Elisha Wiesel, son of Elie Wiesel, to speak at the No Fear rally in front of our nation’s Capitol building this past Sunday, July 11. My immediate thoughts centered on the horrific conclusion that nearly three years after the massacre in Tree of Life, I have to go to Washington, DC, for this type of rally, as the disease of antisemitism refuses to go...Read more...

I am about to utter a seven-word phrase that evokes dread in all Rabbis and Cantors: Two months until the High Holy Days! That may seem like a great deal of time, but it really is not. In my role as Hazzan I prepare the liturgy, although fortunately we have a wonderful Cantorial Soloist, so that lessens the Cantorial part of the burden somewhat. When I think about sermons, there are six to...Read more...

We are in this transitional period between strict quarantine and herd immunity. Since there are few Americans alive who can tell us what life was like during the 1917 pandemic, no one has personal experience in navigating this unexplored terrain. The CDC says one thing, states may agree or disagree, well-meaning doctors and scientists release social media videos that claim something else, and...Read more...