Here are the (lightly edited) notes for the sermon I gave on Erev Rosh Hashanah 5787 (2026). Scroll down for the video of how it actually turned out. ~js Once, when I was just getting my start in Jewish education — teaching Hebrew School because, well, I grew up in Israel and happened to Continue Reading »
The Board of Directors of Congregation Agudath Achim is working on a strategic plan with concrete goals and actions to guide our Family of Friends over the next several years. As we look to the future, we want to learn from the people who know our congregation best—you!
Those of you who come to synagogue often and are familiar with the liturgy may have noticed that I rarely recite the traditional Aleinu prayer at the end of services. We have a beautiful version in our prayer book in which we acknowledge the “Master of All, who suspends the heavens and establishes the earth…. Continue Reading »
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָםאֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לַעֲסֹק בְּצָרְכֵי צִבּוּר Blessed are you, Adonai our God, Sovereign of time and spacefor for making us holy with your commandments, and commanding us to engage with the needs of community. – After the traditional Prayer for Community Dear family of friends, If you’ve ever been Continue Reading »
The book of Exodus presents two models of fund-raising for the building of the Mishkan. In the first, people are called upon to donate what their heart is moved to give. In the other, each person makes the same minimal donation. What can we learn from these two models, as we work to raise funds for our own sanctuary?
“If you’re having trouble installing your rabbi, try rebooting the congregation!”
My brother-in-law thinks he’s very clever.
But I have to admit I like his joke better than the more common ones about installing air conditioners and ceiling fans. It’s not a terrible analogy to say that a rabbi works in the operating environment of a congregation and its board, as we work together to address the needs of the community.
Can we, Congregation Agudath Achim—this Family of Friends (or the people of Israel as a whole, for that matter), function and flourish together as a single community, not despite our differences, but precisely because of them?
