Last week at Friday night services we talked about where we are two months after George Floyd’s murder. For those unable to make it, I thought I would share what I said to open the service.
Tonight we are going to reflect on where we are two...Read more...
Recently I was listening to the podcast Unspooled where they are reviewing the top 100 movies of the AFI top 100 list. The episode I listened to last week was about the film Jaws. The host of the show drew a comparison between the fight between the sheriff and the mayor to what was going on today between people who are wearing masks and social distancing and those who are refusing to do so.
Before I get to this week’s Shabbat message I wanted to say two things:
1. Thank you to all who answered our survey about the High Holy Days. This year’s service will be streamed on Zoom, but with your feedback we will ensure a meaningful and spiritual service. For those who would still like to answer the survey, here are the questions:
This past week in Lunch and Learn we finished our study of the book of Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes is known as a part of the wisdom literature of the Bible. Our purpose in studying this book for the past two months was to see what wisdom it could present to us on how to deal with our current situation.
This past week I had the opportunity to sit in on two zoom calls with the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR, the rabbinical union for Reform rabbis) about the High Holidays. The consensus among the congregations is that this year’s High Holidays will look different and most likely will require some type of streaming for us to gather as a community.
As you can imagine this creates a tremendous amount of fear and excitement...Read more...
Growing up in Los Angeles had its advantages. I was able to see the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, enjoy the good weather and beach life, and be surrounded by a culturally rich and vibrant Jewish community which fostered me and helped me become the rabbi I am today. As wonderful as that all was, as a young teen, I was also given a front row seat to the not so great aspects of Los Angeles,...Read more...
The first time I went skiing - I mean really skiing - I remember the next day I was sore all throughout my legs. Turns out I had used muscles I have never used before. Muscles that were weak suddenly got a workout.
I liken the last three months to a similar experience. Mental muscles that perhaps I never got to exercise before suddenly were being used in earnest. However, as any good fitness expert will tell you, you need to give...Read more...
In a crisis such as this, we may not know exactly what type of help we need or we’re unsure of what is offered. We asked Cheshire Human Services to put together a list of local and state resources that may be of help to you or someone you know. Please don’t hesitate to contact one of these organizations if needed.
Cheshire Human Services 203-271-6690 for general information and...Read more...
Over the holidays this past year, I talked about Din and Rachamim - justice and mercy. I spoke about how we constantly have to balance between these two poles. Sometimes we need to judge others, and other times we need to be lenient and err on the side of mercy. If this is true of how we treat others, then it is equally true of how we treat ourselves.
For those of us working at home I worry we may be erring a little too...Read more...
Why is it that Gordon Ramsay and Dr. Phil are so popular in America? You may or may not like them individually, but clearly these two personalities have a large following. So again I ask the question, Why? While they can come across as crass, hostile, and even sometimes mean, I believe their approach shares one thing in common that resonates with Americans. While some could argue that we simply enjoy schadenfreude, taking joy in...Read more...
