Category: Uncategorized
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The Importance of Kindness (Parasha Chaye Sarah)
Our Torah reading for this week opens on a sad note. We are told that at age 127, Sarah has died. As you remember, Abraham and Sarah are the first Jewish people. At G0d’s command they leave their home in Aram Naharaim and travel to the Land of Canaan. There, G-d promises to give…
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We Are All Stars (Parasha Va-Yera)
In this week’s parsha, Abraham receives a blessing from G-d promising to make his descendants as numerous as the stars in heaven and the sands of the seashore. Earlier in the Torah G-d promises to make Abraham’s descendants as numerous as the dust of the earth. Why are the Jewish people compared to dust,…
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God Does Not Seek Perfection (Parasha Lekh Lekha)
Last week the lawmakers in the United Kingdom banned the use of botox-style injections and lip fillers for anyone under the age of 18. Government estimates showed that there were over 41,000 non-surgical cosmetic procedures performed on under 18 year olds last year. The pursuit of beauty has accelerated world-wide under the influence of…
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Parasha Bereisheet The Eyes Have It!
In the Book of Kings G-d appears to King Solomon in a dream. Solomon, then a young man, has just ascended to the throne of Israel following the death of his father, King David. In this dream, G-d asks Solomon what G-d can give him. Solomon tells G_D that he is just a…
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Listening (Parasha Haazinu)
The Book of Deuteronomy is full of words related to “hearing”. The most famous verse in the Five Books of Moses is related to the sense of hearing –“Hear O Israel, the Lord our G-d, the Lord is One.” There are many other references to “hearing” or “listening” in the Book of Deuteronomy, including…
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Yom Kippur am 5782 "Our Parents our Teachers"
This morning I am going to give a sermon on something I have never given a sermon on before. Or I am going to give a sermon on the meaning of our Yizkor service. I realize that many of you still have both parents living, and therefore do not recite Yizkor. But please, bear…
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Kol Nidre Sermon 5782 "I Place God Before Me at all Times"
A story is told of a man who stopped attending his usual synagogue and was now frequenting a minyan in another synagogue. One day he happened to bump into the Rabbi of his previous synagogue, and the rabbi asked him where he was praying these days. The man answered: “I am praying at…
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Rosh Hashanah Sermon on Israel (Day 1)
When I became your Rabbi 13 years ago, I was asked by a congregant about my goals. I answered that one of my goals was to help Congregation Beth Shalom develop a closer relationship with Israel. As a University Junior I had been a student at the One Year Program at Hebrew University in…
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Sermon for Rosh Hashanah Eve 5782
As most of you may know, ten days ago I announced my retirement as Rabbi of Congregation Beth Shalom effective June, 2023. In making this decision I am reminded of the parent who sends a note to explain her son’s tardiness for kindergarten. “Please excuse Johnny for being late for school this morning.…
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What Does It Mean to "Choose Life"? Parasha Nitzavim
Next week we will celebrate Rosh Hashanah, with its evocative prayers and stirring melodies. In our Amidah prayer we will add the verses “zachrenu le hayyim, melech hafetz bahayyim, vchatvenu besefer hachayimm” — Remember us for life, sovereign who desires life, and inscribe us in the book of life.” The imagery of a “Book…
Rabbi Marc D. Rudolph 