My recent posts...I enjoy perusing the New York Times’ year-end top-ten lists of books and movies even if I’ve read or seen few of those listed. More moving and enlightening for me is “The Lives They Lived,” an end-of-year Sunday Magazine dedicated to some of the...

My recent posts...Commemorating the merger between Temple Emeth Shalom and Congregation Beth Judah, and with an eye on the structural and cosmetic changes made to our building, the two-year mark seemed like a propitious time for a party. I titled it a “reDedication”...

On this Shabbat haGadol, this Great Shabbat, across the country and around the world, many thousands of people, especially young people, are rallying in support of action against the plague of gun violence that afflicts our country.

About 500 years before the Parthenon was built, King Solomon constructed in Jerusalem a magnificent temple as the worship center of, and earthly abode for, the God of Israe

It takes a lot of people to keep Shirat Hayam vibrant, and, of course, more ideas and more hands and hearts are always welcome.

For a number of years, I went through life without wearing a wristwatch, except as a decorative accessory on the rare occasion we went out to a classy affair. It wasn’t hard to get to that point: I was not comfortable with metal bands (concern about them catching my wrist hairs and a mild aversion to the aesthetics), and the sweat factor over a couple of summers didn’t make me happy about leather or fabric bands.

Moshe espies a burning bush in the wilderness. Curious, Moshe approaches the bush. Adonai (God) calls out to him, “Do not come closer! Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy ground!” (exodus 3:5)

Every Friday morning, Ellie and I “do Shabbat” with our preschoolers. The kids and teachers sit on a rug, we are on little-kid chairs. We have a routine that includes songs, a brief story, a word of Torah and a blessing. And, of course, grape juice and challah.

The closest thing to shira b’tzibbur that I’ve experienced in the United States is when, during a wedding, bar mitzvah or the like, the band (or, more likely, the DJ) plays “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond. Everyone joins in. With gusto!

Every week, Shabbat has consistent themes: respite from the quotidian, opportunity to connect with spirituality, tradition, sacred liturgy and text, with family, friends and community.

Two writes don’t make a wrong. Two wrongs don’t make a right. No right on red, don’t lose your head.

We had tried to sign up for a Friday slot at Mt Carmel Cemetery to help with the restoration of the toppled tombstones, but all the slots on all three days were filled. So, with a few others from the Shore community, I was at the rally in Philadelphia on Thursday; “Stand against hate” was the motto.