Today we begin the Jewish month of Nissan, meaning that we have just two weeks to go until the festival of Passover begins! Nissan is all about beginnings. As we begin the Passover season, I often feel the Jewish calendar is giving us an opportunity to engage in some personal self reflection and prioritization. We Continue Reading »
Seder Homework Passover has always been one of my favorite holidays. I have fond childhood memories of our large family gatherings where we would eat a crazy amount of food in between working our way through the Haggadah cover to cover. While we read at a somewhat leisurely pace through the first sections of Continue Reading »
Four questions, Four sons, Four cups, and FOUR WEEKS until Passover begins!! With that in mind, my messages for the next few weeks will each contain a short teaching related to Passover. Feel free to use any of these teachings at your Passover Seders. (And speaking of Seders, if you did not sign up for Continue Reading »
Purim is right around the corner! Thank you to our Sisterhood and all of our volunteers who helped put together Mishloach manot bags and Hamantaschen this past Sunday. Check out our Facebook page to see some pictures from Sunday and to find out all of the details for Purim. Below is the schedule, we hope Continue Reading »
Good morning! Before today’s message, I want to tell you how proud I am of our community, and how grateful I am to all who have been working on the Assistant Rabbi/Educator search process. Our first weekend was a huge success and we are looking forward to seeing the next three candidates on the weekends Continue Reading »
Last night we returned from a wonderful mission to the Jewish community of Cuba. With over twenty participants from our Torat El community and around the country, we met with representatives of four different Jewish communities, visited numerous sites and had a variety of cultural experiences. Shabbat in Havana was a unique and uplifting experience Continue Reading »
A few weeks ago, my facebook page was filled with comments and articles about the Holocaust. It took me a few moments to realize that it was January 27th- the day that the United Nations declared to be an international memorial day for the victims of the Holocaust. The Jewish calendar intentionally commemorates and celebrates, Continue Reading »
Before today’s message, a reminder that my class on Judaism and Medicine starts tomorrow night. Please join us for minyan at 7, followed by our class from 7:30-9:00. I will be co-teaching tomorrow with Dr. Joshua Schor and we will be discussing Jewish Medical Ethics and practical issues surrounding end of life care. In honor Continue Reading »
When I lived in San Jose, outside of my pulpit I volunteered my time in an advisory capacity at a local community day school. The school had recently expanded to include a middle school, and the administration realized that there was an entirely new set of religious issues to consider. Now that school prayer would Continue Reading »
Good Morning! Below are a few snow related announcements. Stay warm and safe in this weather. 1. The office is closed this afternoon due to the storm. 2. There will be no minyan this evening or tomorrow morning due to the snow. 3. Rabbi Schonbrun’s Lunch n’learn on Wednesday has been cancelled. _______________________________________________________________________ A few Continue Reading »