In the reflective spirit that follows our national celebration of independence on the Fourth of July, we are invited not just to look back — but to look deeper. The fireworks may have faded, but the question remains: What is freedom? And how do we live it? Both the Bible and the American story are [...]
A presentation of the monthly study series on the Book of Exodus, an interfaith exploration into the mechanism of freedom by Rabbi Gadi Capela and Fr. Roy Tvrdik.
Just last Thursday, on June 13, the date that echoes the 613 commandments of our tradition, I reached out to you in the wake of Israel’s preemptive operation in Iran. We were all feeling the weight of uncertainty and concern for our homeland and for the Jewish people everywhere. What is emerging now is nothing [...]
With the selection of Pope Leo XIV, Robert Francis Prevost, and in light of the film “Conclave,” which I happened to watch by chance on a flight back from Florida, I’ve been reflecting on the difference between perception and reality in religious institutions. The film was hard to watch. According to friends in the clergy, [...]
The period between Purim and Passover, two festivals that are deeply intertwined, is a journey of connection to our innermost identity. Both tell stories of danger, courage, and redemption. On Purim, we wear masks; on Passover, we remove them. We deflate not only our bread but our egos. We strip away the disguises we wear in [...]
The following letter to the editors was sent to the members of GEM (Greenport Ecumenical Ministries), and is reprinted here, with permission: Dear GEMs, On behalf of Congregation Tifereth Israel and myself, I extend our heartfelt condolences to our Catholic brothers and sisters on the passing of His Holiness, Pope Francis. His papacy has accompanied [...]
Project Exodus - The Roadmap to Freedom Session 13 of the monthly study series on the Book of Exodus, an interfaith exploration into the mechanism of freedom by Rabbi Gadi Capela, Fr. Roy Tvrdik and Dr. Don Russo. Sunday, March 16, 2025
Project Exodus - The Roadmap to Freedom Session 12 of the monthly study series on the Book of Exodus, an interfaith exploration into the mechanism of freedom by Rabbi Gadi Capela, Fr. Roy Tvrdik and Dr. Don Russo. Sunday, February 16, 2025 at St. Mark RC Church 105 Randall Rd., Shoreham, NY 11786
I am writing this message on March 20, the 20th day of Adar. Exactly 30 years ago on this very day on the Jewish calendar, I was on my way to Jerusalem to register for architecture school. Little did I know that God had a different plan for me. It was a moment of transition — my [...]
Life is a constant movement between order and disorder, a delicate balance between structure and chaos, between the expected and unexpected, between moments of clarity and the unknown. This tension is the very essence of our existence — the breath that sustains us and the drama that shapes our journey. In the midst of the [...]
