In March of 2020, I boarded a plane to join 20,000 fellow Zionists at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s annual policy conference. I had come to appreciate this annual gathering for giving me opportunities to learn, to reconnect with colleagues and friends, and to reenergize me. At that time, we began to hear the…Read more »

I was a sophomore in college when I had the most frustrating Jewish experience of my life. I finally worked up the courage to attend Shabbat services and dinner at Rutgers Hillel. Having grown up in the Reform movement, I attended Kabbalat Shabbat services with the Rutgers Reform community. When it came time for the…Read more »

A few weeks ago, we were blessed to have Rabbi Alan Lettofsky join us for Shabbat services. As one of the editors of the Conservative Movement’s newest series of siddurim, Rabbi Lettofsky spoke to a group of us about the process he and the committee engaged with to birth the new books. One of Rabbi…Read more »

Do you remember those few good weeks? The period of 6-8 weeks this summer when it seemed like everyone was vaccinated and we briefly came out of our isolation? During that period, I had the opportunity to travel to Israel with our Cleveland Jewish Federation. I had not traveled anywhere in nearly eighteen months, so…Read more »

Those of you who tuned in yesterday will recall that I gave the first of a two part sermon. Yesterday, I spoke about transforming our doubt into possibility. The sermon was presented in honor of Connie Waxman, of blessed memory, and all of our members who passed just before and during these pandemic months. I…Read more »

(Today and tomorrow’s sermons are dedicated in loving memory of Connie Waxman, and to all of the beloved members of Congregation Shaarey Tikvah we have lost since just before the pandemic: Joel Adelman, Donald Berman, Rolf Camnitzer, Jackie Chernin, David Foster, Susan Greenberg, Elisabeth Greenfield, Marion Gruen, Arthur Kaplan, Dr. Richard Katzman, Robert Schubach, Clive…Read more »

As newborns, we learn that if we scream someone will answer. This is a fine lesson for a newborn to learn. However, as we grow we learn that sometimes screaming is not the answer. Sometimes it is best to be quiet. At other times, we need to be selective in choosing a trusted friend in…Read more »

For me, one of the joys of Torah study is getting to know our sages. Through my learning, obscure names like Nittai, Hamnuna, and Abaye have become recognizable personalities and even friends. Today, I would like to introduce you to two these friends. They represent two ways of being. One was focused on a singular…Read more »

My friend and teacher, Rabbi Shmuel Green, a student of Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, once likened Yom Kippur to a piece of rope fastened at each end to two opposing points. Sometimes these connections become severed. However, when we tie the severed pieces together, we find that the two ends end up bound closer together than…Read more »