Shabbat Shekalim — Little Boxes
This week’s prophetic portion is NOT about mystical visions of G-d experienced by the prophets. It is not about dire warnings of prophets for the people of Israel to repent…
Parasha Yitro — Women and Leadership
It is wonderful to be back with all of my congregants after my month long Sabbatical from CBS. So much has happened since I was last here in December. The…
Parasha VaYigash: “Jewish American — Or American Jew?”
Are you an American Jew – or a Jewish American? In a recent op-ed piece in the New York Times, the writer Mark Oppenheimer notes that Presidents from Reagan to…
Some Reflections on “Chad Gaya”
In 1947, in the wake of the United Kingdom’s decision to relinquish their Mandate for Palestine, the United Nations formed the Special Committee on Palestine. The purpose of the commission…
Shabbat Ha-Chodesh: Acts of Defiance
Last night Middy and I went to Chicago’s Symphony Hall to hear a program called “Defiant Requiem: Verdi at Terezin”. This was a benefit concert for the Jewish United Fund…
Jewish-Muslim Dialogue
A few weeks ago I delivered a sermon on four common misunderstandings about Judaism. It was rather well received, and many of you commented that you learned something new about…
The Challenge of Purim
We begin our celebration of Purim tomorrow evening with our Megillah reading. On Sunday morning with our Purim carnival. Purim is a story for the ages. Haman, the villain of…
Parasha Mishpatim — Confronting Hatred
Early this February, four Muslim women rang the door to our synagogue. Alzeena Saleem, Sabrina Zubair, Saima Mussani and Seema Zafar were extremely alarmed and upset about the recent spate…
Four Common Misunderstandings about Judaism
On Tuesday afternoon I was invited to speak on a luncheon panel entitled “Dialogue among the Abrahamic Religions” sponsored by the Muslim Student Association at North Central College. The other…
Parasha Toldot — Raising Children
I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving with family and friends. Middy and I spent the holiday in Connecticut with our son Mario and his wife and two children. Our…