Rabbi Marc D. Rudolph

Silencing Your Critics When does a controversy that erupts at a student organization at a small college make the front page of the New York Times?  — When that controversy involves Israel.  A few months ago the students at the Hillel at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania rebelled. They wanted to sponsor a speaker to talk…

The Purpose of One's Life This week during our studies we have taken on the big questions of life. For our Tikun lel Shauvot study, Bernie’s subject was “The Purpose in Life”. He asked us, “If someone were to ask you what the purpose of life was according to Judaism, how would you answer that…

When Donald Sterling’s racist rant was released publicly by his girlfriend, V. Stiviano, late last month, I was upset not only that an NBA owner would hold such views, but that this NBA owner was Jewish. You remember, this owner of the Los Angeles Clippers was caught on tape telling his girlfriend that she should…

The kidnapping in Nigeria several weeks ago of 300 schoolgirls by the Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram has caused an international uproar and, a by now famous “Bring Back our Girls” Twitter campaign initiated by Michelle Obama. The mitzvah of Redeeming of the Captive — “Pidyon Shevuim” in the Hebrew –– is of such importance…

IF….. This week’s sermon is a meditation, of sorts, on the first word of our weekly parasha. It is a small word in Hebrew, only two letters – eem. The equivalent in English is “if”. A review of a new book entitled Archduke Franz Ferdinand Lives! A World Without World War l – appeared in…

Whose Responsibility?   I wonder if the idea I am going to talk about tonight has ever crossed your minds before.  It is an idea that might even seem heretical.  It is certainly out of the ordinary. Yet, it is an idea that comes from the heart of the Jewish tradition. It has to do with…

 The founding of the State of Israel in 1948, 66 years ago, will be observed the 6th of Iyar, this Tuesday, May 6th. It has been a tumultuous history, born from a war initiated by its neighbors who refused to accept the UN vote declaring Israel a Jewish State. Yet Israel, still surrounded by enemies,…

Do Not Stand by the Blood of your Fellow This weekend marks Yom HaShoah – Holocaust Memorial Day. We will be having our annual Holocaust Memorial Service this Sunday, following our Jewish United Fund brunch. Our speaker will be Jeannie Smith, the daughter of a Righteous Gentile. She will tell the story of her mother,…

Hole-y Matzo!  I am currently reading Taking the Stand, Alan Dershowitz’s account of his professional life as a Harvard Law Professor as  a, high profile attorney, and as an ardent defender of Israel.  Dershowitz was retained by Jim Bakker, the famous televangelist who had been convicted of fraud in relation to his ministry in 1989.…

Life and Death are in the Hands of the Tongue A midrash tells us that the King of Persia took ill and was advised by his doctors to drink the milk of a lioness in order to be cured. A man came before the King and volunteered to bring the king fresh lion's milk. The…