Dear Friends: My paternal grandfather, after whom I am named, died before I was born. But he had one brother and three sisters who I...

Dear Friends: I received an email yesterday from a colleague who teaches future rabbis at the Jewish Theological Seminary. They are...

Dear Friends: During the weeks leading up to Passover there are several Shabbatot when we read a special Maftir which contains a reading...

Dear Friends: I have been calling my class in Pirkei Avot “Wisdom from our Sages” and last night we had an example of how a text which is...

Dear Friends: Today is Purim, and we had a very nice Purim celebration at the shul last night. I want to thank Hazzan Komrad for leading...

Dear Friends: In the Weekly Announcements you received on Wednesday, there was a note from Stu Rutchik, who is our Vote Mercaz captain,...

Dear Friends: On Wednesday, Shiri Bibas was laid to rest in the Tzohar Regional Cemetery near her home of Kibbutz Nir Oz, together with...

Dear Friends: Last night in our Pirkei Avot class, we were studying the famous maxim of Hillel, “do not separate yourself from the...

Rabbi’s Update 2/12/2025 Dear Friends: Over the last few weeks, I have spoken with a number of you who are concerned about the future of...

Dear Friends: I wanted once again to update you as I recover from my surgery of January 10. This past Friday I went for my three week...

Dear Friends: I don’t usually send a “Rabbi’s Update” on Thursday morning but I did not send one yesterday because of New Year’s Day and...

Dear Friends: You probably noticed that a week ago today you did not get my “Rabbi’s Update” in the morning or the Shabbat Shalom email...

Dear Friends: Until fairly recently, the questionnaire that Conservative congregations filled out when they were looking to hire a new...

Dear Friends: Is it strange that every year as it gets colder I look forward to the release of Starbucks’ “Christmas Blend”, which is one...

Dear Friends I spent several weeks in Australia during July, August, and September of 1985. It was the summer before my final year of...

Dear Friends: Last night I had the interesting experience of attending a dinner and discussion program with Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa,...

Dear Friends: In my message a week ago today, I mentioned in passing that Shearith Israel Congregation in New York not only celebrates...

Dear Friends: On Wednesday I explored the spectrum of American Orthodox perspectives on whether or not it is permissible to celebrate...

Dear Friends: Next Thursday, November 28, is Thanksgiving. Our office will be closed and both minyan and Adult Education will be...

Dear Friends: About a month ago, the Jewish publication Forward published a somewhat tongue-in-cheek article  unveiling a major “scoop.”...