Shabbat Zachor
Mistakes Christians Sometimes Make about Jews In our megillah reading tomorrow night, Haman says to King Ahasverus, “There is a certain people- scattered and dispersed among the other peoples in…
A Modern Midrash
This Shabbat I will be away from the synagogue on a Family Retreat with members of Congregation Beth Shalom. We will be spending the weekend at Camp Shai in Wisconsin,…
Chicago Rabbinic Action Committee Mission — 2014
Rome and JerusalemLast week I spoke about The Rabbinic Action Committee trip to Rome. I showed slides of the Jewish Catacombs of Rome, the Fosse Ardeantine memorial, ancient Jewish manuscripts…
New Year’s Day Message
Embracing our DifferencesOn January 1 I participated in a panel at Wentz Concert Hall for the ninth annual World Peace Day Interfaith Prayer Service. The theme of the day was…
Parasha Va-era
A "Ribbiting" Debate Just a few weeks ago, the American Studies Association, an academic organization, voted overwhelmingly to sever ties with all Israeli academic institutions. This is part of a…
Parasha Va-Yekhi
How To Hold A Grudge This letter appeared in the Sunday NY Times advice column called "Social Q's" on July 5: We had dinner with another couple at an elegant…
Parasha VaYigash
Reconciliation -- "Then" and "Now" Rabbi Joseph Telushkin relates the following story. It illustrates the rancor that is legend in synagogue life: Two members of a congregation have been feuding for…
Chanukah Sermon
Balancing our Jewish LivesA week ago our community was shaken, shocked and saddened by the untimely death of Rabbi Shmuel Mann of B'nai Israel in Aurora. This is a profound…
Parasha Vayishlach
What Does G-d Look Like? Every Sunday morning I visit two classrooms in our Religious School for one of my favorite activities of the week --"Ask the Rabbi". Usually the teacher…
Parasha VaYetze
Remembering the HolocaustNovember 9 and 10th mark the 75th anniversary of the riots against Jews in Germany that we know as Kristallnacht – the night of the shattered glass. In…