18 Adar 5780
March 13, 2020 As I help prepare couples for their wedding ceremony, I explain to them that the broken glass at the end of the ceremony represents their status before…
11 Adar 5780
March 6, 2020 This Shabbat, we read from Tetzaveh (Exodus 27:20-30:10), which teaches us about the special clothing for the priesthood. In addition, this is also Shabbat Zachor (Sabbath of…
4 Adar 5780
February 28, 2020 From the spiritual to the ordinary, from the metaphysical to the concrete, this week’s Torah reading, Terumah (Exodus 25:1-27:19), takes us from the extraordinary event at Mt.…
27 Shevat 5780
February 21, 2020 Case number one: A person was standing outside the house of prostitution, trying to decide: Should I or shouldn’t I? Should I go in or not? The…
20 Shevat 5780
February 14, 2020 I have always found it surprising and instructive that this week’s portion, Yitro (Exodus 18:1-20:23), which contains the revelation at Sinai and the Ten Commandments, is named…
13 Shevat 5780
February 7, 2020 In this week’s Torah portion, Beshalach (Exodus 13:17-17:16), we have finally emerged from the darkness of Egypt and we are now headed into a different sort of darkness, the…
Shalom Feb /March 2020
Download a copy of the February – March SHALOM and read all about what is happening at Temple Shalom this month and next.
6 Shevat 5780
January 31, 2020 This Shabbat, my family and I will celebrate with my nephew at his Bar Mitzvah ceremony as he reads from this week’s Torah portion, Bo (Exodus 10:1-13:16).…
28 Tevet 5780
January 24, 2020 Recently I reread a series of stories online, that was hashtagged #HolyWomenHolyLand. This was written by a group of six rabbis and five pastors (all women) who…
21 Tevet 5780
January 17, 2020 Recently, I was sitting at Starbucks, enjoying my coffee. On the table before me was my special Starbucks coffee mug filled with coffee, and copies of some pages…
14 Tevet 5780
January 10, 2020 As we read the last portion in the Book of Genesis on this Shabbat, Vayechi (Genesis 47:28-50:26), after Jacob dies, we learn: When Joseph’s brothers saw that…
7 Tevet 5780
January 3, 2020— A colleague once told me that he always liked the name of this week’s Torah portion. It’s the one where Joseph reveals himself to his brothers and they all…