The Torah portion this week (Shemini II) teaches us which foods are permitted (kosher) and which are not. They are very clear to understand. They are very easy to follow. And, they are utterly confusing! Let's start with seafood - appropriate since we live by the ocean. The Torah teaches that only fish that have [...]
http://www.beittshuvah.org/ Purim is, without doubt, the strangest of all Jewish holidays. We dress up in masks and go around hootin' and hollerin' (as we used to say in Mississippi) whenever we hear the name of Haman. We have a carnival and celebrate our salvation from certain demise at the hand of clueless king, Ahashverosh, and [...]
This week Beth Miriam will be having a very special Shabbat that comes at a most important time. After the President called countries that foul-laden term which clearly implied that people of color are not welcome in the United States (this was obvious to anyone hearing it despite the later protestations), we as a temple [...]
I am disgusted. That is the only adjective I have after hearing what the President said about other human beings based on the color of their skin. You have heard it all for the past 24 hours. Over and over again. Haitians live in a 'shithole.' Africa is a 'shithole.' My God, even the newspeople [...]
The new year, be it secular or Jewish, is a time of refection and recollection. Rosh Hashanna is our time to reflect on our sins and the changes we want to make in our souls. I suppose the same can be said about the secular new year but it seems to me that most of [...]
One of the great joys I have in life is being able to teach young adults. I love it when they learn. And I love being a part of that process. Around this time of the year, my Teen Academy students - all post b'nai mitzvah students who want to continue to learn with me [...]
The President's choice to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is now a reality. Twenty years ago it was voted affirmatively by Congress but every 6 months, the then-President could postpone the move for 6 months. This postponing took place some 40 times. Why all the postponing? Simply because there were constant [...]
December 1, 2017 Allow me to share a passage from Pirke Avot: ' Pray for the integrity of the government; for were it not for the fear of its authority, a man would swallow his neighbor alive.' The government that existed when this was written was the Roman empire and the author of this perek was [...]
As you all know, Israel has caved into the ultra-Orthodox parties and has suspended an agreement to create an egalitarian prayerspace at the Western Wall, the Kotel thereby breaking a deal that was four years in the making with the liberal streams of Israeli Jewry. The government asserts that the agreement is 'suspended.' This is [...]
Believe it or not, I am preparing for next year’s Days of Awe. As you know, we are getting a new prayerbook for the holidays and the services will be even more meaningful. As the cantor and I are planning what we will do, let me fill you in on some of things we have [...]