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This week’s Torah reading is from the beginning of the Torah -- The Book of Genesis. On Simchat Torah, just celebrated on Monday evening, we concluded the final paragraphs of…

One of the themes of Rosh Hashanah is birth and renewal. We proclaim on this day, Hayom Harat Olam, “Today is the Birthday of the World”. Our tradition holds that…

I’d like to begin my sermon this evening by telling you a story. The story takes place in the 1980’s, before the widespread use of personal computers, before smart phones,…

Racist Violence against Houses of Worship Oh people of conscience, Cry out. Cry out against arrogance. Cry out against hatred and anger. Cry out against violence and oppression. For God…

Isidor I. Rabi, the Nobel Laureate in Physics was once asked, “Why did you become a scientist, rather than a doctor or lawyer of businessman, like other immigrant kids in…

Do you remember the movie, “Meet the Parents”?  It starred Ben Stiller as a prospective son-in-law and Robert Dinero as his father-in-law to be, Jack.  Greg, the character played by…

We studied the poetry of YehudaAmichai (above) with scholar Rachel Korazimin her Jaffa home.  It is wonderful to be back following our nearly two week pilgrimage to Israel. Sixteen of…

Not all Parashas, that is, the weekly Torah portions, are equally welcomed by Rabbis – or by congregants!  One could say these are to Parashas that we love to hate. …

As most of you know, I have been active in the Chicago Board of Rabbis since I arrived in the area seven years ago. I have served on the Executive…