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Archive: December 2020

Out of the Mouths of Babes – Shabbat Hanukkah (Vayeshev – 12/12/20)

Posted on December 15, 2020

Out of the Mouths of Babes How do you respond when you’re amazed, silenced by the response of one of your students? This kind of lighting struck twice this week. Continue Reading »

The Tale of Kosher Filet Mignon (Vayishlach – 12/05/20)

Posted on December 7, 2020

The Tale of Kosher Filet Mignon Do you wonder why most kosher beef is chuck meat, that much of it needs to be corned (soaked in brine) to make it Continue Reading »

The Dating Game (Vayetze – 11/28/20)

Posted on December 2, 2020

The Dating Game The Real Housewives of Canaan series has been an eye-opener for me. Growing up in the still sexist mentality of the seventies and early eighties, and then Continue Reading »

Toldot – Sermon by Irwin Scharf (11/21/20)

Posted on November 25, 2020

The text today tells of the 20 childless years of Isaac and Rebekah ending when she conceives and gives birth to Esau and Jacob. Esau is described as a hunter Continue Reading »

The Blessings of Pluralism (Lech Lecha – 10/31/20)

Posted on November 3, 2020

The Blessings of Pluralism Something is confusing at the beginning of our parsha (Lech Lecha): Abraham has enemies. Trying to entice Abraham to leave his home in the Fertile Crescent Continue Reading »

Noah’s 2020 Message (Noach – 10/24/20)

Posted on October 27, 2020

Noah’s 2020 Message Corruption, Destruction, Renewal: for many of us, the episode of Noah’s Ark is a fantastical and intriguing story that captures our imagination but is not true. Geologists Continue Reading »

The Story Remains the Same (Bereshit 10/17/20)

Posted on October 20, 2020

The Story Remains the Same Throughout history, we see the same issues and conflicts popping up again and again. The characters change, but the story, unfortunately, remains the same. In Continue Reading »

Temporary Dwellings / Sermon by Jackie Novatt – Sukkot – 10/03/20)

Posted on October 6, 2020

Temporary Dwellings Chag Sameach Everyone! When Rabbi Neil asked if I’d be interested in speaking on Sukkot, I looked at the Torah portion and found . . . nothing really. It was Continue Reading »

Say Their Names (Yom Kippur Yiskor 5781 – 09/28/20)

Posted on September 30, 2020

Say Their Names Good Yom Tov, Shana Tova In a few moments, we’re going to say the words: Yizkor Elokim Nishmat Avi Mori…                                             Morati Imi… May God remember the souls Continue Reading »

We Shall Overcome (Kol Nidre 5781 – 09/27/20)

Posted on September 30, 2020

We Shall Overcome Good Yom Tov, Shana Tova, thank you for joining us today. Some years ago, I had a congregant named Moshe. Feeling very repentant, he came to me, Continue Reading »

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