This is the D’var Torah I plan to give tomorrow in services, October 28, 2023 for Parashat Lech L’cha, the opening of the saga of Sarah and Avraham, three weeks after the Hamas attacks of October 7 and as the war continues in Gaza. Who said the Torah had to be divided into 54 roughly Continue Reading »
It has been difficult for many of us to watch the news coming out of Israel, and feel like we can’t help since we are so far away. We have been asked about ways in which we help Israelis during this time of crisis. Below are some organizations we vetted and can recommend as sources of Continue Reading »
This is my D’var Torah for Shabbat on October 14, 2023. It’s the first Torah reading of the new cycle, Parashat Bereshit, and it’s one week since the beginning of the Hamas atrocities in Israel. Last week on Simchat Torah, as we tried our hardest to celebrate especially for our youngest kids, knowing what we Continue Reading »
On a sunny Monday morning, 10/9/23 the TBA community came together to plant Daffodil bulbs in our newly created Memorial garden. The Daffodil Project aspires to build a worldwide Living Holocaust Memorial by planting 1.5 million Daffodils in memory of the children who perished in the Holocaust and in support for children suffering in humanitarian Continue Reading »
My piece on Sukkot, science and religion at sinaiandsynapses.org! Image by Freepik
From Yom Kippur, when we put aside our material existence by fasting and spending so many hours in prayer, we move within days to Sukkot. Sukkot is by contrast a very earthy, material holiday. There is the Sukkah booth itself and the plant material that makes up its roof. There are the Arba’ah Minim, the Four Continue Reading »
Click to read the text of the sermons: Day 1 — Glimmers Day 2 — Through Regret Or watch or listen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_ls7atGlUohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qamHm6VmXzo
Click Here for Elul 2023 / 5783 – Information, Resources, and Links
This was my D’var Torah for Parashat Re’eh last Shabbat, August 12, 2023. Two friends encounter each other late at night near the town square. It’s a classic small New England town, gazebo in the center, and it’s a particularly clear night, the new moon. The one finds the other kneeling down next to a Continue Reading »
From Rabbi Jon — my updated list of recommendations of my own Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur words spanning the past ten-plus years that I think stand the test of time: Hope In An Uncertain World (5777/2016) What the Chanukkah dreidel can teach us about four kinds of hope. Who Knows? (5780/2019) How the story Continue Reading »