These are Rabbi Marc Rudolph’s weekly sermons.
Mental Health Shabbat/Parasha Ki Tissa
As we approach the 2-year anniversary of life with COVID, mental health statistics reflect that the pandemic has had a profound impact on our minds, bodies, hearts, and souls. Depression,…
Gathering for the Good of Ukraine פּרשׁה ויקהל
Our Parasha for this week begins with the words, “Moses gathered all of the people of Israel.” The word used for “gather” is “Va-yakhel”, [ויקהל] in Hebrew. The three-letter root of…
Sermon on Antisemitism / February 4, 2022
Shabbat Shalom. It is good to be back after my month-long Sabbatical. I spent a lot of time reading, practicing my guitar, reaching out to friends, colleagues, and old teachers. And of…
Teach Your Children: Part ll (Parasha VeYechi)
It is the final chapter of the Book of Genesis. Jacob, reunited with his family in Egypt, is about to die. Before he does, he gathers his children around his…
Teach Your Children Well (Parashah Miketz)
This past Sunday Naperville Community Television visited our Congregation as part of a segment they were producing on “Chanukah in Naperville”. The NCTV reporter visited with Jen Weiner and her…
To Be a Jew is to be Thankful (Parasha VaYetze 11-19)
Every Sunday morning, I visit our Sunday school classes. Each class prepares questions they want me to answer. I have had so many great questions. What does the word “Rabbi” mean? Why…
“It is Hard to be a Jew” (Parasha Toldot 11/06/21)
It can be tough to be the son of a well-known father. Sometimes sons follow in their famous fathers' footsteps – Michael Douglas and Kirk Douglas, George W. Bush…
The Importance of Kindness (Parasha Chaye Sarah)
Our Torah reading for this week opens on a sad note. We are told that at age 127, Sarah has died. As you remember, Abraham and Sarah are the first…
We Are All Stars (Parasha Va-Yera)
In this week’s parsha, Abraham receives a blessing from G-d promising to make his descendants as numerous as the stars in heaven and the sands of the seashore. Earlier in…