Rabbi’s Corner

We are in a high school class in U.S. History, somewhere in Connecticut, 2007. A student says, “The slave trade of Africans to America never really happened.” Other students look at him with curiosity. “Yes,” he says, “this whole subject has been grossly exaggerated by American blacks to explain their difficult experience in this country and to win compassion. Africans really wanted to come to America, eagerly and voluntarily got on ships, and came over here, hiring themselves out on plantations for fair wages and good treatment and better lives.”
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So here I am in Israel, at a Karaoke pub inside a hotel, drinking my Pepsi Max, standing outside the window, looking in because I can’t stand all of the cigarette smoke.  And these beautiful Israeli kids are having a blast, singing all of the hit songs.  I know a lot of prayers in Hebrew and a lot of traditional Hebrew songs but I don’t know any of these Israeli hits. (more…)

In many movies, the first scene is also a scene from the end of the film; the entire movie makes a full circle from the end to the beginning to the end again. So today I would like to outline the plot of a screenplay, and I’d like to begin at the end. (more…)

Does G-d make mistakes? Most people would say, “No, of course not. G-d is perfect. G-d knows everything that is going to happen before it happens. What G-d does is by definition good. G-d cannot make and has never made a mistake.” (more…)

Every year has its issues and key words and phrases. A key phrase this year is Intelligent design. Intelligent design is a new, more sophisticated form of the word creationism, which is now passé. (more…)

Let me take you back to high school, a time that, socially speaking, can be the most difficult one in life. In the high school years, it’s all about who you’re friendly with, who you date, who likes you, whether or not you fit in. And it can be very, very hard. (more…)

On Rosh Hashanah, we read the famous story of Abraham and Isaac. Abraham is commanded by G-d to sacrifice his beloved son on a mountain. Before Abraham can actually do anything, G-d stops him from hurting his son. And they go home, together, and everything is fine. (more…)

The High Holidays are about recognizing our mistakes and trying to change. As we begin these days of reflection, I want to focus tonight on the mistakes that parents make with their adult children.

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On August 21st, 1995, my daughter Rachel and I were out on an errand. When we got back to the house, we were shocked to hear horrible and tragic news. Rachel’s teacher at Ezra Academy, Joan Davenny, had been the victim of a terrorist attack in Jerusalem. (more…)

I have talked on these High Holidays about holding on and letting go. I have spoken of the mistakes we make, about how we hold on to our mistakes and will not change. (more…)