Shalom, it has been a long time. We also celebrated our oldest becoming Bar Mitzvah at his camp. In this podcast are some reflections about our journey to this new place...

Hanukkah - Celebrate Our Light

Dec 1st, 2013 3m 7s

Happy Hanukkah! Let us pause for a moment and consider one element we often take for granted.

Thoughts on Syria

Sep 11th, 2013 6m 22s

Before our president speaks, I wanted to offer some Jewish perspective on the situation in Syria.

Ancient Travel Logs - Matot/Masai 5773

Jul 4th, 2013

So if you remember AAA Trip-Ticks, this weeks parasha contains one of these. The Israelites wander for many years and an entire chapter is dedicated to where they went. I wonder if we approach our life's journeys with as much curiosity and de

Balak 5773 - When Donkeys Cry

Jun 21st, 2013 5m 44s

Remember the TV show Alice? Apologies for swiping Flo's second most famous catch phrase, but it seems to fit with this week's Torah portion. On the road to curse the Israelites, the pagan prophet Balam rides his donkey and encounters an angel

Chukat - Answering Change

Jun 14th, 2013 10m 53s

This week's Parasha tells of Moses' final 'sin' that will excluded him and Aaron from entrance into the Promised Land. Yet, Moses' response this week was his response to a similar problem before. What changed? When in our lives do our same a

Korach-How Our Arguments Can Bring Heaven to Earth

Jun 4th, 2013 7m 56s

This weeks Torah portion carries the name of a person. I always teach that if you have a name for a Torah portion, either the person did something very good or, well, not. Pirkei Avot makes a direct mention of this Torah portion when it comes

Fear, Faith, and Twelve Spies

May 31st, 2013 7m 5s

The Torah portion this week speaks to the episode in the wilderness when the Israelites are ready for their first attempt to enter into the Promised Land. Things do not proceed according to plan and the ancient community is split by the choice

Only One Day of Passover?

May 23rd, 2013 8m 50s

Looking at B'ha-alotkha we find an observance from the Torah that might drive many of us to plan long trips during a certain Spring holiday. The Torah speaks of the situation when one cannot observe Passover due to being ritually impure from c

Elijah in the Whirlwind

May 21st, 2013 3m 58s

For all of us affected by the storms in Oklahoma, a reflection, a biblical reminder and a prayer.II Kings Chapter 2

Shemot 5773-Learning to Be...and Then Do

Jan 13th, 2013 12m 27s

In the aftermath of the recent shootings in our country, I felt that we needed to rethink how we react/respond to these horrible events. As Jews we are familiar with the face of evil whether it be Pharaoh, Haman, or Hitler. A natural response

Today, We Are Jacob's Daughters

Dec 15th, 2012 7m 50s

With the events in Newtown, Conn. in hearts and minds I wanted to look to Torah. There in the portions that surround parashat Miketz, the Torah portion of Hanukkah, we find two emotional moments echoing the events in Newtown. In Genesis 45 we

Becoming the One You Were Meant to Be - Kol Nidre 5773

Nov 24th, 2012 15m 8s

I delivered this sermon at Kol Nidre this year. It was sparked by several events including the scandal at Penn State during this past year. We wonder how such events could happen, especially at a school known for academic integrity. Yet, thi

Rosh Hashannah Morning 5773 - The Men and Women with Nehemiah at the Water Gate

Oct 2nd, 2012 14m 10s

Is it just in our nature to be fearful of the stranger or the 'other' in our society? What happens when Jews forget acceptance and understanding and even begin to create strangers out of fellow Jews in our midst? This sermon examines the 'oth

Be and Beware Your Tefillah

Sep 19th, 2012 16m 21s

Shannah Tovah U'Metukah! A sweet and happy Jewish New Year to all of you. This podcast is my Rosh Hashannah evening service and in it we will explore the meaning of the phrase, V'Ani Tefillati, I am my ... Tefillah.I would invite you to give

Who Do We Think We Judge?

Aug 26th, 2012 7m 55s

Shalom and thank you for listening. This week we are going to look at Parashat Shoftim, a Torah portion that speaks to the qualities we are supposed to look for when appointing judges. Perhaps this parasha also has some lessons for those of

And He Saved Moses...

May 18th, 2012 8m 11s

This podcast is a reflection on our trip to Washington, DC with our confirmation class. While we were there we had a chance to tour the Supreme court and while it was nice to see an image of Moses among the 'law givers' in the court, maybe one

Hearts of Fire

Jan 21st, 2012 11m 58s

The Torah portion this week continues with God's charge to Moses to continue to mission of freeing the Israelites. Even after speaking from the heart of the Burning Bush, Moses continues to protest God's call. Perhaps the question for us, lik

Vayeitzei 5772-Between a Rock and a Holy Place

Dec 6th, 2011 3m 18s

Recently I had the honor to write the Devar Acher for the URJ's 10 Mintues of Torah. I want to share my reading of this passage with you this week.

Monty Python, Korach, and Disputes

Jun 25th, 2011 8m 35s

I'd like to have an argument...Among the things we don't know about the Torah we can include what the dispute was about in the week's Torah portion. Maybe in our Torah, Monty Python, and in our nation we are so use to the argument, we have f

Behar 5771 - On the Mountain of Meaning

May 17th, 2011 9m 51s

So the bad guy is dead...now what? While several rush to attach a meaning to bin Laden's death, what does it really mean or is his death meaningless when the liberties we thought were promised to us as Americans are...denied...stolen...or trea

Kedoshim 5771-Nobility, Nobels, Nightmares and...Hope

May 2nd, 2011 14m 45s

The images from this week were truly amazing. Royal weddings, massive destruction, and this week we read the Torah portion concerning how God defines holiness in our Torah. Funny thing about holiness and nobility, at least God's definition, i

V'Yikrah 5771-Questions We Should Consider About the Muslim Hearings

Mar 13th, 2011 12m 34s

I was not alive for the McCarthy hearings, but they seemed to have the effect of turning Americans against Americans which is something most would consider un-American. Our country has put itself forward many times as one of the places that up

Egypt and a Tabernacle in the Desert

Feb 6th, 2011 13m 9s

When we think of our sacred structures, (synagogue, mosque, church) we often think of them as ends in and of themselves. This week's Torah portion comes to remind us that religious structures are really vehicles for the greater connection to G

Empty Chairs Filled with Hope - V'yigash 5771

Dec 21st, 2010 10m 37s

The Empty Chairs we have in our lives can signal many things. For Jacob it must have been difficult to see a place empty of Joseph every time the family gathered together. In our day, an empty chair can be both a symbol of loss...and of hope.