by Rabbi | Mar 4, 2019 | Rabbi’s Remarks
Purim is based on the Persian word, Pur (sounds like poor). In English it means lots. Okay! What exactly are we talking about? What do we mean by lots? Using lots is a way in which to decide something randomly. For example, we use choosing straws, rolling dice, or a...
by Rabbi | Jan 5, 2019 | Rabbi’s Remarks
A certain Jew studied Torah and practiced the commandments in the hopes that he would inherit Paradise. He patiently went over the brilliant arguments in the Talmud; the deep metaphors of the Midrash; the wonderful explanations of Rashi and the subtle questions and...
by Rabbi | Nov 20, 2018 | Rabbi’s Remarks
Dear Members and Friends,At this particular time it feels as if I should be placing “Thanksgiving” in quotation marks – for more than one reason! As we go back over the events of the past year there are so many reasons to feel anxious: the...
by Rabbi | Aug 22, 2018 | Rabbi’s Remarks
My Jewish education never included attending a Yeshivah. As a result, I never had the chance to learn how to study Talmud in my younger years. In fact, while my father had introduced me to the tractate “Ta’anit” when I was in my teens, it didn’t include studying...
by Rabbi | Jun 26, 2018 | Rabbi’s Remarks
Dear Beth Ami, Outrage competes with disgust as we read about our country’s current policy to forcibly separate children from their families.. I’m forwarding this message from Danny Grossman, CEO of the San Francisco Community Jewish Federation, to keep...
by Rabbi | May 30, 2018 | Rabbi’s Remarks
Sonoma County Pride Parade, Santa Rosa, CA – June 2, 2018. “The unexamined life isn’t worth living.” So said the ancient Greek philosopher, Socrates. Despite its age, the validity of this quote hasn’t tarnished. The question remains,...
