From Our Rabbi

Forgiveness in Elul

Posted on September 3, 2025

Hashivaynu e’lecha ve’nashuvah Call us back to you, and we shall return. We are 20 days from Rosh Hashanah when I write this. I hope you feel the urgency to spent quality time at the wellspring of your heart with the work of teshuvah, turning and returning.   I want to share a few thoughts about Continue Reading »

It’s Elul! Four Weeks to Rosh Hashanah

Posted on August 24, 2025

Shuvah – Come let us turn, return and be turned “Achat sha’alti … There is only one thing I ask from G-d, I seek it with all my heart. To dwell in G-d’s sanctuary all the days of my life; to behold the grace of the Mystery and to remember G-d in everything.” (Translation of Continue Reading »

How Do You Stand Before God?

Posted on May 5, 2025

Do you stand with God as a co-creator, or do you stand before God in absolute submission? If you wonder what Judaism says about this, well, as with many thing in Judaism, it depends! Judaism offers different models for how we relate to God.  In the Torah, within the same book – Genesis – and Continue Reading »

Rabbi’s Speech: Celebrating Our Chai (18th) Year

Posted on February 3, 2025

Dear Members and friends, I stand before you with deep gratitude. Thank you to all our speakers for your thoughtful words and caring hearts. I also, again, thank all of you; our leadership, members and guests. Since I have the privilege of speaking on many occasions, I will keep my remarks relatively brief—so we can Continue Reading »

Hanukkah Teaching on Time: The Most Precious Commodity

Posted on December 22, 2024

“In a very deep sense Judaism is a religion of time. Aiming at the sanctification of time. Every moment is holy and an opportunity for sanctification, for goodness, and for service.” A.J. Heschel I saw an ad for a cruise line that said, Time is our most precious commodity. My father-in-law talked about taking a Continue Reading »

Giving Thanks: A Daily Practice Through Challenging Times

Posted on November 27, 2024

In Jewish tradition, gratitude is not merely a fleeting emotion or occasional practice but an integral part of daily life. Rooted in blessings and rituals, the practice of giving thanks has sustained individuals and communities through both joy and hardship for over 2,000 years. As we approach Thanksgiving—a day that naturally lends itself to reflection Continue Reading »

Embracing Uncertainty: Courage and Resilience for the New Year

Posted on September 27, 2024

As we stand at the threshold of a new Jewish year, our hope for a fresh start is shadowed by the challenging and difficult past year. Many of us may find it hard to welcome the new year with genuine hope and joy because we feel weighed down by a time of heightened uncertainty and Continue Reading »

The Shofar is Calling

Posted on September 23, 2024

On Rosh Hashanah we sound the Shofar, a Ram’s horn made into a wind instrument. It calls us to wake up, to remember what is deep within our heart and soul.   The Shofar is the sound of our personal and collective primal and heartfelt preverbal prayers. The sound offers us the opportunity to connect Continue Reading »

Holding On Together in Community

Posted on August 7, 2024

As I write this there is an escalation in the threat of a larger war in the Middle East and Israel. Tropical storm Debby just swept through Florida and Georgia with record rainfall and a lot of damage. We are worried, concerned and feeling vulnerable and we need not do it alone. This time of Continue Reading »

Mah Nishtanah? Is This Passover Different?

Posted on April 21, 2024

On Monday we will gather for the Seder, around tables set with a script, our Haggadah, to tell the story of Exodus in an orderly way. It may seem ludicrous to celebrate liberation and follow the order (seder) while we are still in the shadow of a six months war in Israel, with no end Continue Reading »

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