“Happy Thanksgiving in Yiddish”
A few days ago, I went to see the Yiddish version of “Fiddler on the Roof,” now playing off-Broadway at Stage 42. Last year, I [...]
“What Do You Stand For?”
“If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything,” said Alexander Hamilton. Every year that we stand before God to give an accounting for [...]
“Everything is a Dance”
Reflecting on my seven years at Tifereth Israel, it has been a dance. The shul family has been with each other in sorrow and in [...]
“The Dresser of Sycamores”
We tend to attribute the fatherhood of modern capitalism to Adam Smith, who wrote The Wealth of Nations originally as a mere guidebook. In essence, [...]
“Working For Our People”
In a few days, it will be seven years since I began serving as the rabbi of Congregation Tifereth Israel. When I decided to make [...]
“Stainless Steel Rabbit or a Golden Calf?”
Last Wednesday evening at Christie's in New York, a 1986 sculpture by Jeff Koons, “The Rabbit,” sold for $91 million. A playful, stainless steel, faceless rabbit, just over three feet tall, which [...]
“Theology and Technology for Passover”
There are times in life when an event so compelling takes place that we are obligated to document it and keep it for future generations. [...]
“Masks”
The mask covers what we can’t simply show in our ordinary lives, something that comes from a world beyond ourselves. Our public persona is taking [...]
“Bat Mitzvah in Jerusalem”
It was a beautiful winter day today in Jerusalem. We had just celebrated Eliza Garmise’s bat mitzvah at the family section of the Western Wall. [...]
“The Wisdom of the Siddur”
Moving from confusion to order is a sign of maturity and responsibility. It is also the price of freedom. We give up our random, spontaneous, aimlessness existence [...]
“Bingeing the Bible”
With the passing of President George H. W. Bush, another chapter in American history has been signed. He was my first American president. I had [...]
“Blended Jewish”
Over the last weekend, I attended my good friend Angela’s wedding in Chicago. Angela married Jason, and since they are both members of Mensa, they [...]