To Save A Child’s Life: A Sacred Jewish Duty
May 07, 2012
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Filed in: Rabbi's Message |
There are approximately 400,000 children currently living in foster care in the United States. The numbers are pretty evenly split between boys and girls and the majority of children are Caucasian. Most of these children, whose average age is 9, are placed in non-relative homes and often move placements every 14 months. Although in many cases, the goal is reunification with natural parents or relatives, each year, at least one quarter of these children is available for adoption.
Read More…Chag HaAviv, the Festival of Spring - A Time to Spread Love and Hope
Apr 09, 2012
| Filed in: Rabbi's Message |
Living in South Florida, we lack a sense of appreciation for the conclusion of a long, hard winter and the beginning of spring. When we lived in Connecticut, we longed to see the first buds of spring appear out of the dark, brown earth. Those tiny blossoms gave us hope that we could soon look forward to the green grass and colorful flowers that would brighten our dreary winter landscape.
Read More…Reflections on the Washington, DC Biennial of the Union for Reform Judaism
Jan 30, 2012
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For temple president Ben Kuehne and his wife, Lynn Kislak, first vice president Joan Schaeffer, educator Valeria Michanie, past president Robert Glazier, musical director Dr. Alan Mason, member and aspiring cantor Jen Rueben and me, participating in the largest ever biennial convention of the Union for Reform Judaism in December in Washington, DC was an exhilarating and spiritually uplifting experience.
Read More…What Happened to the Dream?
Jan 03, 2012
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On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the march on Washington for jobs and freedom and delivered his now famous “I Have a Dream” speech. More than 200,000 people - black and white, young and old, rich and poor - gathered that day to hear this modern day prophet’s eloquent call for justice for all our nation’s inhabitants. Dr. King shared a dream “deeply rooted in the American dream.” That American dream of freedom, dignity, and economic justice is based on the belief that all people are created equal and “guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Dr. King vowed not to be satisfied until, in the words of the prophet Amos, “justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream” for all God’s children.
Read More…Keeping the Light of Learning Alive
Dec 19, 2011
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According to the Talmudic sage Rava, one of the four questions God asks us when we die is: Kavaata itim laTorah? Did you set aside time to study Torah? We could interpret this literally as asking, did we study from the actual Five Books of Moses? But why limit our study to Torah when there are so many ways to learn about Judaism, especially nowadays? Perhaps a better interpretation of this question is, did we engage in the process of Jewish learning throughout our lifetime?
Read More…From the Farm to the Table: Seeking Justice for Florida’s Farm Workers
Nov 09, 2011
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In a few weeks, Americans will gather with family and friends to celebrate the quintessential American holiday of Thanksgiving - a time to express our gratitude and appreciation for the many blessings we have in our lives. On Thanksgiving we especially celebrate our good fortune to live in a land of so much opportunity.
Read More…Honoring the Bitter and Celebrating the Sweet
Sep 01, 2011
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Hayom Harat HaOlam! On this day the world was created! Three times we recite this phrase in our liturgy after the shofar is sounded on Rosh Hashanah morning. Why? Because we need an annual wake-up call to remind us that Rosh Hashanah is more than a day for soul searching and repentance. Rosh Hashanah is also a day to celebrate the creation of the world and God as the creator of our world!
Read More…The Ongoing Journey to Sinai and Freedom for All
Jun 29, 2011
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Sinai was but one stop along the long and perilous journey towards freedom. Even though many of the Israelites complained and even rebelled against Moses, most of them stuck with it because they knew the goal – freedom – was worth it.
Read More…Freedom Then and Freedom Now
Apr 05, 2011
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Judaism understands how easy it is to take freedom for granted. For that reason, each week as we chant the blessing over the Shabbat wine, we recite, "Zaicher l'tziat Mitzraim, remember our liberation from Egypt" remember the precious gift of freedom that was given to us when our ancestors were liberated from Egypt.
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