They say that you can find anything “online.” That’s why it was not surprising when I recently discovered an online resource dedicated to helping people work through the “shiva” process called “ShivaConnect.com.” According to its website: ShivaConnect.com is a complimentary service for mourners and those wishing to express their condolences, providing instant communication to people [...]

Part of being an active Jew is characterized by our willingness, or lack thereof, to engage in the struggle to bring God’s presence into our lives.  I know that this is not something that people always like to hear.  Often people are looking to “instantly connect” to God as fast as they connect to friends [...]

If someone asked you: “What does it mean to be a Jew” What would you say? Here’s one insightful response by a young man named Andrew Lustig that has been shared widely across the internet over the past few weeks.   Now, ask yourself-How would I respond? Have a great week! If someone asked you: [...]

This past Shabbat was the CTE annual USY Shabbat, marked by a very nice Shabbat service led by some of our community’s teens. It was a small but inspiring gathering that, once again, affirmed all that I have come to know about USY since my involvement with this tremendous program began more than twenty years [...]

In honor of this day commemorating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I offer the following reading material as an opportunity for each of us to remind ourselves that today is more than simply “a day off from work.” The following are resources from the website of the Rabbinical  Assembly that [...]

Happy New Year!  A month ago I led a Lunch & Learn with one of our local Hadassah chapters focused on the challenges surrounding issues of pluralism in Israel that included a conversation about the monopoly that the Chief Rabbinate and the Ultra-Orthodox political parties have on issues of Jewish identity in Israel. The following [...]

It was wonderful to see so many members of our community at Friday night’s Hanukkat Habayit, dedication of Congregation Torat El.  And how appropriate that we dedicated our home during this season of “dedication” with Hanukkah just around the corner!  We hope you enjoyed our Hanukkah party on Sunday morning, and we wish all of [...]

I was recently asked become a respondent on “Jewish Values Online,” a Q & A website that has rabbis from different denominations comment on a range of interesting questions. Some examples of topics and questions asked on this site include: When there is a conflict between “siding” with one’s spouse vs. one’s parents- is there [...]

I am back! Last week, I had the amazing opportunity to be a part of a cross denominational group of rabbis, executive directors, and other Jewish professionals from across the United States, Canada, England, and South America, who participated in a week long leadership seminar through the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. The [...]

In just a few days we will be celebrating Thanksgiving! Surrounded by food, family, and friends, most of us have an abundance of blessing in our lives.  There are others who are less fortunate. As you sit down to your Thanksgiving table, the following are a few suggestions to bring some Jewish meaning to your [...]