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...

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...