Category: Uncategorized
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Will YOU 10Q? : Shabbat Shofetim
We are fast approaching the Yamim Noraim, the High Holidays. Only three more weeks to go.As we all know people the world over celebrate their respective s New Years with drinks, with specific foods and with parties. Fireworks have long been a staple of New Year celebrations in many parts of the world along with…
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Knocking on Heaven's Door
This evening marks the beginning of the month of Elul. The month of Elul is a time of preparation for the New Year. In a few weeks we will gather in this sanctuary to celebrate RoshHashanah. Although we can repent and return to G-d every day of our lives, the sages emphasize that the month…
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Accepting the Torah Parasha Eikev 5779
The Rabbis tell two stories about how Israel accepted the Torah. The first is a modern retelling of an ancient midrash by Rabbis Rick and Ellissa Sherwin: God had gone to the nations of the earth and asked them to accept a gift, the Torah. One nation asked, “What does it say?” God answered, “You…
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BDS and Israel's Barring of US Congresswomen
“Israel Bars Two US Congresswomen” blared the headline from the front page of the Chicago Tribune. I thought that you might want to hear my thoughts on this. By now we all have heard the story. Following a tweet by the President suggesting that Israel block the planned visit of Representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida…
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A Message About Poway
My Dear Congregants, Sadly, I once again write following a tragic and needless atrocity, this time against Jews celebrating the final day of Passover in their synagogue. Clearly, we Jews are not alone in being gunned down in our places of worship. The shooting at the Chabad synagogue in Poway comes on the heels of…
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There's No Place Like Home
The journal Science recently published an intriguing study of the health effects of long-term space flight. Astronaut Scott Kelley spent almost a year aboard the International Space Station between March 2, 2015 and March 27, 2016. His identical twin brother, Mark Kelley, remained here on earth. At the conclusion of the space flight, Scott and…
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Making the Slave Bible
Have you ever wanted to simply “cut out” a part of the Torah? There are many parts of the Torah we find very hard to read because we find them uncomfortable, because they clash with our modern day sensibilities, because we find them morally objectionable or simply because we find them irrelevant. Surely many of…
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A Time to be Silent and A Time to Speak
According to the Book of Ecclesiastes “there is a time to be silent and a time to speak.” Our parasha this week demonstrates a time when perhaps it would have been preferable to remain silent rather than to speak. Our parasha is called “Shemini” and its subject is the anointing of Aaron as the High…
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What's Jewish about Marie Kondo…. Parasha Tzav
The late comedian George Karlin is perhaps best known for his 1972 monologue on the seven words you can never say on television. Quaint. Of course, that was before cable TV and Netflix – now you can hear all those words, and new ones that weren’t even invented in 1972 – on television! George Karlin…
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Coming to the Aid of Your Enemy
Contemporary essayist Steve Goodier tells a beautiful story about his 11 year old son, Robert, who was being bullied at the school bus stop by some older boys. Steve called the school principal and was told that the school would call the boys’ parents. He was also advised to call the police. Steve wasn’t sure…
Rabbi Marc D. Rudolph 