Blog Posts

On Love and War – Sermon for Yom Kippur 5785 (2024)

10/12/2024

Opinions and arguments. War. Antisemitism. Elusive hopes for peace. Pride and prejudice. Morality in the crosshairs. What we're about. What we want to be about. What we crave to be about. And back to opinions and arguments, and war, and antisemitism....

Amidst the swirling chaos of the year that's been, and so much hurt still ongoing, what keystones to Jewish spiritual life can secure our foundations? What can help keep our hearts open amidst all?

The Tunnel of Love – Sermon for Kol Nidre 5785 (2024)

10/11/2024

There are times in life that rivet us on what's core and strip away the rest. In those moments, we can enter a tunnel of love and be transformed. If we're purposeful, or lucky, we can experience these times long before our last time. We can experience Eckhart Tolle's secret to life: we can die before we die – so that we can live.

Our Shared Heart – Sermon for Rosh Hashanah 5785 (2024)

10/3/2024

Judaism's time-tested superpower is community – not because it's easy, not because we're similar, but because community is the mainstay channel for the kind of existential love that heals society. This love is possible because spiritually, we share one heart. It's equally true if times are tough and even more important then – but also harder.

What the World Needs Now – Sermon for Erev Rosh Hashanah 5785 (2024)

10/2/2024

Rabbi David introduces our High Holy Day theme for 5785 amidst the anxiety of this hour. We remember that the core mitzvah of Jewish life is to love – not to be loved – come what may. And we remember that, even when deep pain causes us to lose this elemental love, we can find it anew.

Who's In? You're In. We're All In. (P. Netzavim-Vayeilekh)

9/22/2024

One of my favorite moments of the Jewish year is coming... and it's probably not what you think. There's a point on Yom Kippur when we come together as if to receive anew the ancient covenant, knowing that the very act of being together magnetizes that covenant.

But Torah's basis for this moment, in this week's portion, asks us to read it in a counter-intuitive way.

Blessed or Cursed? The Meaning We Make (P. Ki Tavo)

9/15/2024

We humans are meaning makers: our spirituality concerns not only what happens but also what we make of what happens. Every day of our lives, usually just below the surface of our awareness, we decide what matters most and what our choices say about us and our lives.

This sacred season rivets our focus on this often unconscious inner process – and how it utterly depends on what we say and do together.

"God is in the Details" (P. Ki Teitzei)

9/8/2024

We've probably heard the aphorism that "the devil is in the details." Leaving aside that classical Judaism doesn't really do "devil," spiritually the emphasis is backwards. Not the "devil" but God is in the details. The sacred inheres in our total showing up to our lives and the details of how we narrowcast our attention – especially during these precious days leading to Rosh Hashanah.

Rabbi's Corner – September 2024: Gateway to the High Holy Days of 5785

9/2/2024

This week's start of the holy month of Elul is our gateway into the Season of Meaning.

This monthly Rabbi's Corner column is dedicated to the upcoming High Holy Days of 5785 – our theme, our music, what to expect, and how to make the most of this poignant season at a most pivotal time.

Avinu Malkeinu: The Greatness to Lead Small (P. Shoftim)

9/1/2024

In a few short weeks, Jews worldwide will gather to proclaim Avinu Malkeinu – Our Parent, Our Sovereign. The Jewish notion of a "sovereign," whether divine (God) or mortal (king or queen), hails from this week's Torah portion that is laser-focused on the interplay of justice and humility.

Because too often the two don't go together.

Our Own Way? (P. Re'eh)

8/25/2024

Modern spirituality uplifts personal choice. Most of us understand liberal Judaism to invite each of us individually to question, wrestle, discern and decide for ourselves, liberated from mandate and commandedness. That's what liberalism means: the liberty to choose for ourselves, based on the rights and equal dignity of each individual.

Yet Judaism also is a team sport. We can't all go our own way and survive, much less thrive.

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On Love and War – Sermon for Yom Kippur 5785 (2024)

The Tunnel of Love – Sermon for Kol Nidre 5785 (2024)

Our Shared Heart – Sermon for Rosh Hashanah 5785 (2024)

What the World Needs Now – Sermon for Erev Rosh Hashanah 5785 (2024)

Who's In? You're In. We're All In. (P. Netzavim-Vayeilekh)

Blessed or Cursed? The Meaning We Make (P. Ki Tavo)

"God is in the Details" (P. Ki Teitzei)

Rabbi's Corner – September 2024: Gateway to the High Holy Days of 5785

Avinu Malkeinu: The Greatness to Lead Small (P. Shoftim)

Our Own Way? (P. Re'eh)

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