Last Shabbat evening, the KI congregational family joined together for a joyous and moving tribute to Rabbi Lance J. Sussman, our retiring Rabbi. I conducted a special musical program presented by our sensational volunteer choir, Shir KI, professional vocal quartet, including Abbe Chapman, soprano; Jenifer Smith, mezzo; Steven VanName, Tenor;...
May 25, 2022 Dear Friends: As promised, below are several opportunities for KI members to meet Rabbi Benjamin David, our next rabbi, and for him to get to know us. Please read on, mark your calendars and join us. We are currently planning several small group gatherings throughout the summer...
As we look forward to our Gala Weekend, I have been reflecting on my own “Lessons from Lance.” As your cantor, I have had the great honor of working side by side with Lance for the last 19 years. You would think I would be much smarter than I am...
This coming Sunday, May 15, 2022, will be my final day at JQuest. JQuest this year has another week but because of a family event tied to the KI Spring Celebration and two weddings, May 15 will be my last day. I will be in the lobby to say goodbye...
Parashat K’doshim-The Portion of Holiness Rabbi Hillel: “This Is The Entire Torah; The Rest Is Commentary!” Israel Independence Day 74 By Hazzan David F. Tilman The portion of Kedoshim, Leviticus 19:1-20:27, is a relatively short Torah reading. In most years, this Parashah is read together with the preceding portion, Acharei...
Dear Friends: This year has been quite a busy one in our Rabbinic Leadership Transition. We have spent the past many months honoring and thanking Rabbi Sussman for his 21 years as our distinguished Senior Rabbi and for his significant accomplishments both within our congregation and the greater community. Concurrently,...
This past Shabbat, our congregation celebrated the Bat Mitzvah of Sophie Sussman. Sophie is the daughter of Kelly and Benji Sussman. Sophie is also the granddaughter of Rabbi Lance and Liz Sussman. At the Bat Mitzvah, (stream here-around 45 min) Rabbi Sussman reflected about his own Bar Mitzvah, and the...
This coming Shabbat, we shall read the portion Aharei Mot/After the Death (of the two older sons of Aaron). We continue our progression through the third Torah book of Vayikra/Leviticus. As I have indicated in previous weeks, this book is filled with complex laws concerning the beginning of the sacrificial...
We are obligated at Passover to see ourselves as if we too have escaped from slavery to freedom. So at our seder, past is always present. We relive the journey, the miracle as the Red sea suddenly opens. Then fear- having only moments to decide to chance crossing or stay...
“From Now On, No Distinction:” Reform Judaism and the Redefinition of the Religious Status of Jewish Women, 1810-1975 (The Reform Advocate) By Rabbi Lance J. Sussman, Ph.D. – Roots of Reform Judaism Senior Scholar for The Reform Advocate During the last fifty years, it has become typical, if not fashionable,...
