This was my D’var Torah for Shabbat morning, March 16, 2024, Parashat Pekudei. which fell this year about a week before Purim. It’s already after the Oscars, but I have a pitch for a new movie — it could even be a franchise! It’s about a pair of young friends who travel the world together. Continue Reading »
Dear Friends: Today is the second day of Adar Sheni, the month in the Jewish calendar highlighted by Purim. Purim seems like a purely whimsical festival, when we dress up in costume and read the story of Queen Esther and eat hamantaschen. But just beneath the surface, it’s a profound story and set of practices Continue Reading »
Introducing Adar Conversations, a series about themes of the Jewish festival of Purim and the Megillah, the biblical story of Esther. I prepared this first part as we approach the first Purim after the atrocities of October 7 and as the war continues. How can we celebrate, and maybe more importantly what can this Continue Reading »
This is my D’var Torah for Shabbat, Parashat Va-era, January 13, 2024. In August we went down to New York for the simchat bat celebration for our newest grandniece, and when we were hanging out with the family afterward at the synagogue, my daughter Lela was playing with R. and P., and she offered to Continue Reading »
Here is the video recording of our conversation on January 8, 2024 with Dean Phillips, U.S. Representative from Minnesota’s Third District and Candidate for the Democratic Nomination for President of the United States. Rabbi Jon, Rev. Allison Palm of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashua, and Rev. Michael Reinke of Church of Our Savior (Episcopal) Continue Reading »
I gave this D’var Torah at Beth Abraham on Shabbat morning, Saturday, January 6, 2018. I’m reposting it right after we began reading the book of Shmot/Exodus in our annual cycle again. Watch, listen, or read! Today we begin reading the most important book in human history — Sefer Shmot, the book of Exodus. This is Continue Reading »
This is the D’var Torah I plan to share at Shabbat morning services on December 16, 2023 for Parashat Miketz. It’s related to this one I gave in late 2020, when we could begin to think about reality after Covid vaccines. I want to start by misquoting someone, specifically Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar, on the subject Continue Reading »
On Saturday, December 2, 2023, the TBA and greater Nashua community came together to bring in Havdalah over appetizers and desserts and listened to Arielle Kaplan sing Debbie Friedman songs. The evening was truly lovely, inspirational and soulful. We had a special treat when Arielle invited her father, Dr. Alan Kaplan up to sing with Continue Reading »
Purim is Coming! Click Here for Information and Resources
I‘m posting this on Thursday afternoon but will be replacing it soon with a longer report and reflections — Rabbi Jon On Tuesday I was one of 20 or so Jews from Southern New Hampshire who traveled to Washington for the March for Israel. I’m not usually a rally person like this, and I am Continue Reading »