May 13, 2022 The following is a copy of my sermon from last Shabbat. It addresses the issue of the leaked draft decision of Justice Samuel Alito that would overturn Roe vs. Wade. I had mentioned in my piece last Friday that I would follow up with these remarks. I … READ MORE

May 6, 2022 Dear friends, The inyana d’yoma – the “matter of the day,” is the news that exploded at the beginning of the week about Justice Alito’s draft decision, which, if it maintains the support of four other justices, would overturn Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. … READ MORE

In this message: My remarks from our Yom HaShoah commemoration, Wednesday night, April 27th Special Shabbat service this week! Haftarah class presentation!! Yom HaShoah v’haGevurah Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day April 28, 2022 As the war in Europe rages on, as Putin’s forces rampage through the Ukraine, brutalizing civilians, targeting … READ MORE

April 8, 2022 Dear friends, Another week, another terrorist shooting in Israel. An attack in Tel Aviv yesterday claimed two lives and seriously injured four others. Six people escaped with light injuries. Just last week, I wrote about the death and injury toll from March, which included Jewish, Arab, and … READ MORE

Friday, April 1, 2022   The Israeli newspaper, Ha’aretz, lists the terror-toll from the month of March – nine attacks which have claimed eleven lives:   March 2  An East Jerusalem man stabs a 50-year-old civilian at the Hizma checkpoint, moderately wounding him. March 3 An East Jerusalem man stabs … READ MORE

March 24, 2022   Last night, at the first of our two-part discussion on the Israeli television mini-series The New Jew, one of the things we discussed is how American Jews might choose to identify Jewishly. Needless to say, there are a host of ways, but in the liberal Jewish … READ MORE

March 11, 2022 It is in the normal course of things that a congregational rabbi is expected to comment on moments of import. Many community members seek spiritual guidance and leadership, particularly around crises such as national calamities, episodes of antisemitism, major political events, and the like. Sometimes it’s a … READ MORE

March 4, 2022 THIS SHABBAT: HIAS HUMAN RIGHTS SHABBAT Friends, Please join us this Shabbat for another special service in which we will explore themes relating to human rights on the international stage and here in the United States. EMJC member and guest speaker Debbie Nathan will deliver some remarks … READ MORE

Feb 25, 2022 In this message: The war in Ukraine and the Jewish Community Environment Shabbat – TOMORROW (Guest speaker) Acosta Molina update In many ways, it’s hard to believe that war has broken out in Europe. Most of us alive today have known nothing but calm in Europe throughout … READ MORE

February 11, 2022 A congregant emailed me a link to an article this week with the headline “US to Investigate Antisemitism in Brooklyn College.” The article, from JewishPress.com reports that the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, a federal body, “has launched a formal investigation into a complaint alleging … READ MORE