Sermons
What to Say When a Friend Has a Loss? ” Hineini!”: Rabbi Tom Weiner, Yom Kippur 5780/2019
The Gift of Shiva A little story about being fully present: A young man left his younger brother’s room in the hospital and headed home for some desperately needed rest. He had been at his brother’s bedside for 48 hours straight. The worst was hopefully over. His brother’s condition had been critical but was now, […]
I Want To Go Home: Rosh Hashanah 5780/2019
“We come on the Sloop John B My grandfather and me Around Nassau town we did roam Drinking all night Got into a fight Well I feel so broke up I want to go home. So hoist up the John B’s sail See how the mainsail sets Call for the Captain ashore Let me go […]
AIPAC, J Street: It Shouldn’t Be Either/Or
FROM THE JEWISH WEEK Opinion Section By Rabbi Shira Milgrom December 19, 2018, 9:03am This was not a regular Israel trip. Based entirely in Jerusalem, I journeyed recently with my congregants into the heart of some of Israel’s conflicts. The trip was filled with courage and inspiration — but also challenge and heartbreak, even alarm, primarily […]
The Sacred Center, Yom Kippur 5779/2018
Four generations. We were setting the table in my mother’s home in Jerusalem this summer. My mother, Savta Jo, drew one of the placemats closer. On it was a replica of an ancient map of the world. Savta Jo explained to her great grandchildren: “This map was drawn 500 years ago by a Christian traveler […]
Pray as if Everything Depends on God; But act as if Everything Depends on you. Yom Kippur 5779/2018
A long, long time ago, when I was a newly minted rabbi, the way we prayed in a Reform service was really different from what we’re doing here. The guiding principle of Reform Jewish Worship of the day was “decorum.” “Behavior in keeping with good taste and propriety.” Being decorous was expressed with our clothing […]
Mirrors, Rosh Hashanah 5779/2018
“Mirror mirror on the wall Who is the fairest one of all? Slave in the magic mirror Come from the farthest space Through wind and darkness I summon thee Speak! Let me see thy face. Magic mirror on the wall Who is the fairest one of all?” We are asked during this season of Rosh […]