“Ruth Gruber has moved across most of the twentieth century as a compassionate writer, eloquent speaker, humanitarian and rescuer of Jews.” Barbara Seaman, Jewish Women’s Archive We learn in midrash Bereishit Rabbah that, “Some people have the dignity of old age...
This year, for some reason, I haven’t been dreading Yom Kippur. No, I’m not thrilled about fasting, and the hours spent in synagogue (yes, sometimes even the rabbi!) but there’s more to it. I was no more organized to lead services this year than in the...
There’s a saying that insanity is doing the same thing over and over while expecting a different outcome. On the other hand, there’s comfort in doing the same thing over and over and getting the same result. As we approach Rosh Hashanah, I’d like to suggest that we...
Parashat Re’eh begins with God telling the Israelites, “See, I have put before you a blessing and a curse…” Basically, if we follow God’s ways we will be blessed, and if we follow strange gods, we will be cursed. The word re’eh means “see,” but in this case, it’s not,...
It has often been said that a rabbi’s job, or any clergy person’s for that matter, is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. At least it’s one of our jobs. This Shabbat is Shabbat Nachamnu, the Shabbat of Comfort, and we read from parshat Vaetchanan,...
Eileh ma-asei b’nai yisrael… “These are the travels of the Israelites… .” Begins the final Torah reading in the book of Bamidbar – which literally means, “in the wilderness.” The reading starts off sounding like an ancient version of the...
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