Sermons & Articles

A Beautiful Technicolor World – Rabbi Danny’s Sermon

Posted on March 11, 2024

This past weekend we showed our children the movie the Wizard of Oz for the first time. We had been a little concerned about how they might react to a wicked witch and evil flying monkeys. But, we shouldn’t have been worried. First of all, they loved the movie; the songs, story, and performances definitely Continue Reading »

Reflections from Israel: Our Member Larry Greenberg

Posted on March 8, 2024

I’ve just returned from a quick 3-day Solidarity Mission in Israel with Rabbi Marc Baker (close friend and head of our Boston Jewish Federation, Combined Jewish Philanthropies), his amazing son Maor, and many wonderful friends who joined us along the way (being needed for Kaddish minions for Zev’s father was one of many special moments).  Continue Reading »

Standing against hate and antisemitism – Rabbi Danny

Posted on November 26, 2023

When a swastika is drawn in our town, in our community, we have to decide how we are going to respond. And there really are two choices: you either ignore it, or you act. And when we think about and study the history of antisemitism and racism, we know how often people choose to ignore Continue Reading »

Rabbi Danny’s Remarks at the Community Gathering and Vigil for Israel

Posted on October 11, 2023

I honestly don’t know where to begin this evening. In trying to think about the right words to share, the right remarks, what we need to hear – I have struggled. I have struggled more than on any other occasion during my rabbinate. Like you, I woke up to the news yesterday morning and I Continue Reading »

Letter to TST families in the aftermath of October 7th

Posted on October 11, 2023

(This is an abridged version of the letter shared with our TST families on October 7th) Dear TST Families, As the tragic events in Israel continue to unfold, I am writing with an update, an offer of support, and some resources. Whatever you are feeling right now is valid. Please know that the clergy team Continue Reading »

The response to what happened cannot be silence, indifference, or justification

Posted on October 11, 2023

In a country on the other side of the globe, two terrorists walked into a building and murdered 11 people. It was a hateful crime, which was immediately universally condemned. As a show of solidarity people began posting the country’s flag on their social media accounts, and there was even a slogan of camaraderie that Continue Reading »

Who Says Miracles Don’t Happen Anymore . . .?

Posted on October 10, 2023

By Rabbi Lisa Eiduson On July 25, the New York Times reported, a woman named Peggy Jones and her husband Wendell, learned a lesson in a most usual way. They were home, doing yardwork in Silsbee, Texas, about 100 miles from Houston. Suddenly, a snake fell from the clear blue sky and landed right on Continue Reading »

Choosing Imperfection: Lessons for the New Year from Barbie

Posted on October 10, 2023

By Rabbi Lisa Eiduson “It is the best day ever. So was yesterday, and so is tomorrow, and every day from now until forever.” Words from the block-buster summer movie Barbie –now Warner Brothers’ highest-grossing domestic film release in history. It is more than a rage. It is an entire movement called “Barbiecore.” Did you Continue Reading »

Kol Nidre: A Call for Self-Compassion

Posted on October 10, 2023

By Student Rabbi Heather Renetzky When I was little, my parents spent A LOT of quarters on the washer and dryer in our apartment building. This was for two reasons:   As a baby, apparently the vibration of the machine was just about the only thing that would calm me down enough to fall asleep. Continue Reading »

What do you want to be?

Posted on October 10, 2023

What do you want to be? Some of us never get asked that question any more, while for the younger members of our community it’s a question that they are probably asked with quite some frequency. Had you asked me that question when I was a child then I would have answered with certainty that Continue Reading »