Sign In Forgot Password
Home > Religious Life > Rabbi's Blog

Blogs

L'Shana Tovah!

09/08/2023 10:18:48 AM

Sep8

Dear Friends,

L’Shana Tovah!  It is with joyful anticipation, and more than a little bit of disbelief, that we at Temple Beth David look forward to welcoming all of you to High Holiday services, beginning with Erev Rosh Hashanah on Friday September 15.   Our congregation is on a path of gladness and growth, a year of taking those first steps together into our future while honoring the richness of our past.  May...Read more...

Ki Tav0

09/01/2023 10:37:19 AM

Sep1

Life would be so much simpler if everything went according to logical reasoning. In an orderly and predictable world, those who worked harder would earn more. Those who were kind would only know kindness. Those who treated others badly would suffer the consequences, and even Billy Joel would agree that only the irreparably bad should ever, ever die young. Sound good?

Read more...

Consolation and Renewal

08/23/2023 12:24:17 PM

Aug23

Our Torah portion this week, “Ki Tetze,” connects to its own Haftarah reading, as all portions do. Sometimes the link between the two is subtle; one line from the Torah portion is enough to guide the accompanying Haftarah reading into place beside it. Other times the Haftarah reading has many parallels to its Torah portion. Ki Tetze’s...Read more...

Never Stop Fighting

08/18/2023 10:05:06 AM

Aug18

Some of us have justice on our minds these days. Headlines have informed us of indictments, grand juries, witness intimidation, and judge appointments all summer, and the culture wars vying for a monopoly on truth continue to divide us—rarely in a way that encourages discourse or the pursuit of fairness. And, in the end, is a system of justice ever completely fair? Will our society ever cease to treat...Read more...

Blessings, Curses and a Torah Portion that Teaches Us How to See

08/11/2023 08:31:39 AM

Aug11

There’s a great old bumper sticker I used to see around, which I especially appreciated at this time of year.  “Labor Day,” it read.  “From the folks who brought you the movement.”  For those who don’t know, many of “the folks” who brought us the movement in this country – innovations like the 40-hour work week, safer conditions in factories, and broadly speaking, a campaign in working...Read more...

On Histories and Legacies

08/04/2023 02:33:52 PM

Aug4

A number of years ago, Carnegie Mellon University computer science professor Randy Pausch was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. As he fought bravely for his health in the months that followed, he also delivered a stirring talk known as “The Last Lecture.” Pausch reflected on overcoming obstacles, living fully in the moment, being aware of and passing on our most important values. It spread beyond the walls of the university with...Read more...

Va-et'chanan

07/28/2023 09:51:50 AM

Jul28

Perhaps the hardest lesson for any child to learn is that parental decisions are sometimes final, whether or not one agrees with their parent’s logic. With infuriating consistency, no means no, no matter how much a child may plead, pucker out a lower lip, or employ the most adorable, irresistible pair of puppy dog eyes. Asking again five minutes later is unlikely to result in a different answer. Pushing back and arguing might even get one...Read more...

Growth and Bounty

07/21/2023 08:55:47 AM

Jul21

This past Monday evening, I brought my son Jonah to Temple so we could help out in the Mitzvah Garden together.  Our volunteers took him right in hand as we tied, weeded and sorted.  The greenery was lovely, and so was the knowledge that we were not only participating in the mitzvah of feeding those who are poor or disenfranchised, but also doing our part to create peace and beauty in our corner of the...Read more...

Love is Love

06/19/2023 01:03:06 PM

Jun19

“We’ve had no pride event,” she said. And she was right. And she was not. For there was challah on the table, Swirling chocolate and orange, And paper plates displaying rainbows Declaring loudly LOVE IS LOVE. Leah’s thoughtful tableware, Her plants spread round the room, Her touch upon the bima, Her fresh take on every tune, Her long and loving sermon And tears upon our cheeks: LOVE IS LOVE.   She said cultivate the garden; She said bring your divine gifts; She said everyone is different, And we love each difference. Take time to bring the water; Take time to let in sun: LOVE IS LOVE.   Like our ancestral matriarch, She brought forth life and made her mark. She took tRead more...

Every End is a Beginning, Except if Your Korach

06/16/2023 09:56:59 AM

Jun16

This week’s Torah portion, at least in Israel, is Numbers 16:1-18:42, named for the leader of a group who seemed to come to usurp the role of Aaron and his sons. Korach (backed up by Dotan, Abiram and some 250 leaders) call Moses and Aaron to task in verse 3 of chap. 16 and declare “…the entire community are holy people, and the Eternal is within them, why, therefore do you aggrandize yourselves [as if putting...Read more...

Fri, April 18 2025 20 Nisan 5785