Anyone watching the House Hearings yesterday had to be moved by the testimonies of the four officers. These hearings took too long in coming. Let’s hope these slow turning wheels of justice will result in an outcome that can restore and, hopefully, help heal this nation. Right now, I’m in […]

Last week many Jews commemorated Tisha B’Av, a day marking several tragedies in Jewish history. Each of those tragedies, whether the destruction of Jerusalem, the expulsion from Spain, pogroms and the adoption of the Final Solution (August 2, 1941) have caused untold suffering to our people. But, yet, mir zeinen […]

This Shabbat we conclude the Book of Numbers with great emphasis on the seriousness of vows and how we use our words. Dramatically, the Parsha also describes the battles with forces that threaten the new nation and her unique mission. The verses of the Torah describe the “holy war” to […]

First of all, our hearts go out to all the victims of the collapsed Champlain Towers in south Florida. Our deepest concern for all those who are suffering through the terrible heat wave in the northwestern U.S. So much suffering continues around the globe due to Covid, especially, in India, […]

Bilaam is a desert prophet, a monotheist, trying his best to minister to the nations. However, when Balak, king of Moab, felt threatened by the Israelites passing through his country on the way to Canaan, he bribes Bilaam to curse them. Bilaam saddles his donkey and sets out on the […]

By the time you receive this newsletter I will have returned from a demonstration on the National Mall near the Capitol. I’m not planning on getting arrested this time. This gathering of more than 100 faith leaders called on Congress to pass the American Jobs Plan. As you know, the […]

This week’s Parsha, Shlach, is about the return of the descendants of Abraham and Sarah to the Land of Canaan, the Land of Israel. The people, gathered in the Sinai, are ready to embark on the journey of Return according to the biblical narrative. Moses, wisely, sends twelve scouts to […]

The cloud is starting to lift a little. Meeting with loved ones and friends has been great! I imagine we are all feeling a greater appreciation for life and in-person relationships. Aaron invited me to Camden Yards for a game on Memorial Day. Wow! The Kehila is having Kehila Day […]

The recent Shavuot festival should remind us of the commitment our ancestors made and renewed throughout the generations to be a Covenantal People, committed to certain values and the pursuit of peace and justice. Sadly, if we review the Ten Statements of Principles, (the Ten Commandments), our people are not […]

Yesterday was Rosh Chodesh Sivan. On the Muslim calendar it is Eid al-Fitr, the last day of Ramadan and, traditionally, a joyous festival. Both religions follow the lunar calendar. A new moon is about to emerge. But, today, the sky is dark, especially darkened by the war clouds, fighting and […]