There is a story in the Talmud of two rabbis who seem attracted to each other. Everything about their interaction suggests romantic interest. One goes as far as marrying the sister of the other, so that they can always be close to each other. These two sages, and so many...
Jewish communities around the world marked Yom Yerushalayim earlier this week. It is a minor holiday all things considered and, in some places, hardly acknowledged at all. Jerusalem Day celebrates the unification of Jerusalem, which took place at the conclusion of the Six-Day War in June of 1967. This war...
Happy special birthday to Judy Maslin. Judy, who holds a Masters in Art History, is the founding director of the Temple Judea Museum. During her time running the museum she set a gold standard for all who follow her. She seamlessly integrated the separate collections of Keneseth Israel and Temple...
On the evening of June 1 at 7pm, our amazing Confirmation class will take to the bima to lead us in prayer and song. Taking part in our beloved custom of Confirmation, they will share their words of wisdom and reflect on the year we spent together. They are a...
I was walking down the hall the other day here at KI and there was a pre-school class approaching me. They were supposed to be walking in a line – I think. They were walking in their version of a line. As they got closer, we all said hi to...
This week we read Parashat Kedoshim, which begins with the commandment: “You shall be holy, for I, the Eternal your God, am holy.” These words remind us that holiness is not just a state of being, but a way of living in relationship with one another. Holiness is found in...
This weekend we will take part in our annual Spring Celebration. This year we are celebrating the people who make our HaMotzi program happen. For the last ten years, HaMotzi has provided for the food insecure of our area. Guests receive not only a hot meal, but are treated to...
This week we mark Yom HaShoah, honoring the lives lost during the Holocaust. Fewer and fewer survivors are among us. It is our job, therefore, to hold onto their stories and to tell these stories. We cannot forget what happens when hate goes unchecked, when dissent is silenced, when diversity is...
Shalom U’l’hitraot: My Final Column We are in the middle of Pesach/Passover, the Festival of our Liberation. The weekly schedule of Torah readings is interrupted by our Pesach observance. We return to Sh’mot/Exodus to read the chapters telling the Pesach story. This coming Shabbat, the seventh and last day of...
As Passover approaches, I am running a lot of recipe trials in my kitchen at home. I love rehearsing- whether it is preparing for Seder, a Service, a Concert, or even a tough conversation. Rehearsing is an opportunity to test an outcome. Some things in life need more rehearsing than...
