Category: Uncategorized
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Kol Nidre Sermon 2018
The Changing Nature of Community “Tell me, Rabbi, how would re-joining the synagogue make my life better?” That question was addressed to Rabbi Paul Kipnes of Congregation Kol Ami in California after he approached a former congregant about rejoining his synagogue. I don’t think that question would would have occurred to anyone a generation or…
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Rosh Hashanah 2018 Sermon First Day
“Why Have You Deleted Me From Your Life?” There is a wonderful story by the American author Ernest Hemingway. He tells about a Spanish father who wants to reconcile with his son. The son has run away to Madrid and his father has not seen or heard from him in some years. In order to…
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Rosh Hashanah 2018 Evening Sermon
Giving the Stars their Names Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson go on a camping trip, set up their tent, and fall asleep. Some hours later, Holmes wakes his faithful friend. “Watson, look up at the sky and tell me what you see.” Watson replies, “I see millions of stars.” Watson ponders for a minute, and…
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"Until a Hundred and Twenty"
An elderly couple walked into a CVS and told the pharmacist they wanted to get married. “Do you sell heart medication?” they asked. He said that of course they do. “Then how about medicine for circulation?” The druggist replied, “All kinds.” “Do you have drugs for rheumatism, arthritis, memory problems and scoliosis?” The pharmacist assured…
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A Matter of Attitude!
A man had a satisfying dinner at a restaurant. When he was finished with his meal, the waiter asked him if everything was all right. “The food was delicious,” replied the man. “I only wish that I was given more than one piece of bread.” The next time he dined in the restaurant, there were…
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Parasha Ki Tavo The Most Understood Word
I’m going to open my sermon tonight with a trivia question. Everyone but Mark Sperling is invited to participate. No professionals allowed! Here is the question. Do you know the word in the English language that is most understood around the world? When you say this word, people in Europe understand it, people in South…
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Parasha Ki Tetze "What Makes a Hero?"
Despite living in Chicagoland since 2008 I had not been to Wrigley Field until 12 days ago. If Middy and I were going to see one Chicago Cubs game this season, that game last Sunday, August 12, was the one to see. Many of you saw the game on national TV or read about it and certainly…
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Parasha Re-eh "When Things Work out Best"
Did you know that when we are awake, our brain generates 23 watts of energy, enough energy to light up a room? And that by simply opening our eyes, 75 percent of our brains’ energy is activated? Perhaps that is why this week’s parasha opens with the Hebrew word “Re’eh” which means “see”. The Torah…
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Richard Wagner's Piano
Earlier this week, Mali Sharon, a fellow congregant, called me to ask if she could share a story with our congregation at Friday night services. Mali had recently returned from Bayreuth, composer Richard Wagner’s home in Germany. She was in Bayreuth to see her son Yuval conduct an opera at the famous Bayreuth Music Festival.…
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Parasha Ekev: It's What's Inside that Counts
In 2008, researchers from the University of Chicago and the University of Michigan published a study to try to understand why putting an animal on the label of a bottle of wine – a kangaroo or a duck for example — more than doubled the wine’s sales in the United States! This strategy goes against…
Rabbi Marc D. Rudolph 