Dear Friends: I have to begin my note to you this morning with some sad news. As you know, our guest High Holiday cantor from Israel, Michael Garmise, had to return home right after Rosh Hashanah because his wife Reva had taken seriously ill and was hospitalized. Sadly, she passed away on Wednesday and her funeral took place in Netanya yesterday morning. Although Mike was only with us for the two days of Rosh Hashanah, I heard from many of you how much you enjoyed meeting him

Dear Friends: As of this writing, a ceasefire has taken effect in Gaza and preparations are being made by Israel for the return of the...

Dear Friends: The Israelis have a wonderful concept known as אחרי החגים, “after the holidays.” By which they mean “after Shemini...

Dear Friends: Our country is appropriately troubled by the murder on Wednesday of Charlie Kirk, a right-wing political activist, while...

Last night we had a Town Meeting to discuss various options as we move forward once the sale of our building on Apple Ridge Rd. closes. I...

Dear Friends: I finally found a concise definition of the particular approach to Judaism which makes the most sense to me:   “a...

Dear Friends:   You may know that I was appointed a member of the Social Justice Commission of Conservative/Masorti Judaism this past...

Dear Friends: Before I share with you some other thoughts, I wanted to ask you to put something on your calendar. On Sunday morning...

Dear Friends: This week’s Parasha, VaEtchanan, contains both the Shema and a reprise of the Ten Commandments. At some point you have...

Dear Friends: Tisha B’Av is Saturday night and Sunday. This is the only full 25 hour fast day in the Jewish calendar other than Yom...

Dear Friends: There is a famous story in the Talmud, B’rachot 5b, where Rabbi Hiyya bar Abba fell ill. Rabbi Yohanan went to visit him...

Dear Friends: The war between Israel and Iran continues with Iran continuing to fire missiles at Israel. The pace of missiles seems...

Dear Friends: As you most likely know, last night Israel launched a massive attack on Iranian nuclear facilities and the Iranian military...

Dear Friends: Today is the 85th anniversary of a tragic day in Jewish history and a shameful day in American history. On June 6, 1939,...

Dear Friends: Shavuot, which begins this Sunday night and extends through Monday and Tuesday,  is in many ways an “orphaned holiday.”...

Dear Friends: Yesterday morning I sent out a special message after the horrific murders Wednesday night of two young Israeli Embassy...

Dear Friends: Yesterday morning while working,  I listened to the Supreme Court’s oral arguments in the case of Trump vs CASA in the...

Dear Friends: As you surely know, a new Pope was selected yesterday. Pope Leo XIV was until the moment he became Pope known as Robert...

Dear Friends: Next Thursday night I will begin an Adult Education class on the Book of Psalms. The Sefaria website describes the Book of...

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...