SERMON: “THE SURPRISE ENDING OF GENESIS” The D’var Toarh: When we finish reading the Torah portion this week we will stand together as a community and proclaim: “Hazak, Hazak v’Nithazek” – from strength to strength, let us be strengthened. We… Read More »
The highly charged, emotional moment when Joseph reveals himself to his brothers is the centerpiece of this week’s sedra. There are a number of lessons that our Torah portion imparts: Allow emotions, at the right times, to guide our decisions,… Read More »
Hanukkah is Not a Minor Holiday! Hanukkah is not a minor holiday. I hereby raise it to the same status as Yom Kippur and Pesah! And, if you ask me, the food is better. When we light the lights, we… Read More »
Our Torah readers lineup this week includes youth who are taking on the serious responsibility of continuing our tradition. Come support them and those fellow congregants committed to chanting Torah and haftarah. Come also because the story of Joseph starts… Read More »
It is our story, that of America and that of the Jewish People. Isaac takes up the challenge of his father and mother to continue the story of the Jewish People. He is known as the “father” who did not… Read More »
Sarah was one hundred plus twenty plus seven when she died. She stopped at each of those ages and said “I no longer want to be like this any more.” So powerful was her ability to improve her life’s direction… Read More »
The Lord visited our ancestors Avraham and Sarah and informed them they will have a child in their old age. Surprised, delighted, incredulous God says, “Is there anything too wondrous for God?” One way of reading that phrase in the… Read More »
“It’s on you.” My son, Yonah, and I were talking about what to do with some of his earnings. “Give tzedakah,” I told him, “five times chai, 5X18.” I said. “That sounds like a commandment, Abba.” He likes to remind… Read More »
Noah was called a tzaddik – a righteous soul in his generation. The classic question commentators ask is “was he righteous just compared to the people of his generation who were considered corrupt, extremists and violent? Or, was he as… Read More »
Remember with love – and celebrate! My Yizkor sermon on Shmini Atzeret (Thursday morning) will build on what Elie Wiesel told world Jewry about Simhat Torah during the war. When asked about celebrating this unique holiday right after the Holocaust… Read More »