Sermons & Articles

Yom Kippur Sermon: You Are Enough

Posted on October 6, 2022

A story is told of a water carrier, who had two pots on a very long pole that she balanced on her shoulders. Each day the woman left her home and walked down a path to the stream where she would fill the pots with water, put them back on her pole, balance the pole Continue Reading »

Living in God’s House: Rosh HaShanah II Morning Sermon

Posted on September 28, 2022

If I was a bird, instead of migrating South in the winter, I’d probably migrate further North. I thrive in cold weather and I melt in the heat. I love the magic of snowy days and the sound of rain pitter-pattering against a roof or a window. My ideal state is being snuggled up in Continue Reading »

Nurturing Hope in a “Hopeless” World: Rosh Hashanah I Sermon

Posted on September 28, 2022

A story is told of a town where all of the clocks stopped working (1). The people did what they could to try and repair their time pieces, but despite their best efforts they could not get them going again. No one in town understood the inner workings of the springs, dials, pendulums, and gears – Continue Reading »

President Jackie Loren’s High Holy Days Address

Posted on September 28, 2022

Good Morning, This is my first High Holy Days speech as your Temple President, so I have decided to start with all the good news so you will be so excited you won’t notice my knees shaking.    It is my honor to welcome you here, back to our sanctuary (our gathering as a community Continue Reading »

Sermon in Song: TST Choir and United Parish Brookline Choir

Posted on September 28, 2022

Introduction by Rabbi Danny Burkeman I remember trying out for my synagogue youth choir when I was a child. I really enjoyed singing and it also meant that I would get to miss a bit of the regular class. They had a policy that everyone was accepted into the choir and so they let me Continue Reading »

Earth Etude for Elul: We Must Finish the Work

Posted on August 31, 2022

By Harvey Michaels Originally posted as part of a blog series for the Jewish Climate Action Network, MA during the month of Elul There is a tradition that in the month preceding the Jewish New Year in September, we begin our contemplation about our failures, and returning to our true selves – our Teshuvah. We Continue Reading »

Responding to Threats of Violence

Posted on August 25, 2022

12,233 days, over 400 months, almost 33 ½ years. That was the amount of time between Ayatollah Khomeini issuing a Fatwa, a legal ruling calling on Muslims to kill Salman Rushdie, and the attack which took place a week ago at the Chautauqua Institution where someone tried to murder Rushdie.  In 1988, Salman Rushdie published Continue Reading »

Eikev: August Board of Trustees Drash

Posted on August 18, 2022

By Ginny MacDowell, Development Trustee In the Parshah of Eikev (“Because”), Moses continues his closing address to the children of Israel, promising them that if they will fulfill the commandments or mitzvot of the Torah, they will prosper in the Land they are about to conquer and settle in keeping with G-d’s promise to their Continue Reading »

Letter from the President – July Update

Posted on July 22, 2022

A letter from Board of Trustees President Jackie Loren Hello friends: I’ve talked to many congregants since becoming President and they have asked me to share more information about what’s happening around the Temple. I’m hoping to make a habit of sharing updates after each Board meeting, starting with the July 18th board meeting. Here’s Continue Reading »