To view the Sermon, click here As a parent with young children, if an animated movie is released with enough fanfare then there is a strong likelihood that I’m going to be forced to watch it at some point. There have been many of these movies that I’ve enjoyed and even returned to with my Continue Reading »
To view the sermon – click here I remember my anxiety the first time that I went to the American Embassy in London. The year was 2006 and I was eagerly awaiting a student visa so that I would be able to continue my rabbinic studies at Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles. And if Continue Reading »
(This Op Ed originally appeared in the MetroWest Daily News on 3/16/25 – https://www.metrowestdailynews.com/story/opinion/columns/2025/03/15/wayland-rabbi-condeming-antisemitism-specify-the-act-swastika-wayland-ma-opinion/82358700007/) On Wednesday morning, while in a therapy session (because there’s a lot at the moment), my phone started to ding – a swastika had been graffitied in Wayland, the town in which our Temple is located. I continued the conversation because Continue Reading »
To view the sermon – click here A baby being comforted by its mother on our flight back from London. A baby sitting in a shopping cart, being pushed around Trader Joe’s. A baby on the zoom screen, while celebrating a Jewish life cycle moment. Each time I had the same reaction. Each time all Continue Reading »
(This sermon was delivered at the Vilna Shul, Boston, on November 15th, 2024) In the third period of Colin Ryan’s first day in Middle School the teacher wanted to do a “getting to know you exercise”, and so she had the students fill out a questionnaire. Assuming that the answers would be private Colin felt Continue Reading »
I was talking to my friend, colleague, and mentor Rabbi Irwin Zeplowitz on Wednesday. He shared with me the following: What’s the difference between a Jewish pessimist and a Jewish optimist? The Jewish pessimist says, “Things can’t possibly get any worse.” The Jewish optimist says: “Sure they can!” As we gather together in this community, Continue Reading »
The night before I went to sleep-away camp for the first time, I threw a fit. I don’t think tantrum even does it justice. I cried, I screamed, I railed at my parents for having the audacity to spend thousands of dollars so that I could spend two weeks away with my friends. This continued Continue Reading »
(A video of the sermon with subtitles is available here) In June of 1966, then Senator Bobby Kennedy delivered what is considered by many to be his most famous speech. The Day of Affirmation Address, also known as the “Ripple of Hope” speech was delivered at the University of Cape Town and provided him with Continue Reading »