Dear Friends, Eight year ago, when we purchased new prayer books for our congregation, we donated our 400 used prayer books to the Abayudaya of eastern Uganda, a community of black African Jews. Three years ago, we proudly dedicated our new “Inclusion Torah”, which meant we now have one more Torah than we had before.…
I have a theory that without Maimonides, we wouldn’t be here today, that he saved Judaism. Now, I won’t say he’s my hero, he wasn’t the best husband. But, without him, I don’t think I’d have a job. So, who exactly is Maimonides? There is a saying, “From Moses to Moses there arose no one…
We Were All At Mt Sinai “And God said to us at Mt Sinai, ‘Today you stand before Me, all of you, your leaders and your followers, your children and your wives, even the stranger, all of you, from the woodchopper to the waterdrawer, stand before Me to enter into this covenant. And I make…
Charity’s a choice, Tzedakah isn’t If we find our neighbor in trouble, we must help him or her. This isn’t just being neighborly; this is the law, our law. To help someone who is in trouble is not a choice, it’s an obligation. If we find lost property, we must return it. If they are…
To See or Not To See After a recent Shabbat morning service, since not everyone in our congregation reads the Chronicle or attends services, I was asked to reprint the following sermon in the Kol: In this week’s Torah portion, Ki Tavo, Moses brings together the entire people Israel and says to them: “You have…
PIC: Supreme Court rules in favor of same-sex marriage nationwide!
April 3, 2019
My name is Shayna Bennett and I’m a student teacher at Beth El. I have grown up at Beth El and have been able to call this amazing synagogue my home away from home. And now as a teenager I have the privilege of sharing my love of this place with the next generation of…
October 29, 2018
The following is the text of Rabbi Amy’s 2018 Yom Kippur sermon: A few months ago, I was out for dinner with my book club. At the end of the meal, along with the check, the waitress gave us a handful of wrapped sesame candies. One of my friends said with a wistful smile, I…
April 15, 2018
Blessings are like a stop sign to remind us to slow down and thank God. Throughout the year in Bshul (cooking class) students have learned the blessings for every food group. I introduced the hand-washing blessing, Yadiim, and repeat it at the beginning of every cooking lesson. This keeps us holy and sanitary! For Shabbat…
