Two days after the hostage situation at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, the congregation conducted a healing service at a nearby church. The place was full. I watched it live. One of the compelling themes offered by Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, spiritual leader of the congregation, was this: “We are not helpless! No one would be saying [...]
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” This African proverb is one of my favorites because it speaks to all of us — families, communities, and countries. It tells us that it takes slowing down to stay together. To wait for the stragglers behind. When the Israelites left [...]
Every year, the Greenport Ecumenical Ministries holds a special service on Veterans’ Day to honor our veterans and other civil servants. This year, the service was expanded to honor and thank our essential workers — the North Fork Heroes of the Pandemic. The event took place at the First Presbyterian Church of Southold on Sunday, Nov. [...]
It was a week before Rosh Hashanah, and we were still assigning aliyot to the Torah and other honors. It is a big honor to open the Ark on Rosh Hashanah, like opening the gate of heaven. We pack all our prayers in and then send them off throughout the High Holidays, all the way [...]
Many thanks to all of you who joined us online and in person for the High Holidays. The hybrid services were a special experience this year. The number of people who participated in person was truly surprising, and for those who were on Zoom, it was fantastic to be able to provide everyone the opportunity to [...]
One Jewish year is ending, and another is about to begin. This will be my 10th year celebrating the High Holidays with CTI. If we were a TV show, we would renew for a 10th season (Even Seinfeld was only nine seasons.) Every year is different, each with its own blessings and challenges. In 5782, [...]
Lechayim! To life! Our shul is 120 years old. For Jews, 120 is a special number that symbolizes completion, a complete life. Scripture tells us that Moses, our greatest rabbi, lived 120 years. “Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died; his eyes were undimmed and his vigor unabated.” (Duet. 34:7) According [...]
On May 25, many Black communities and their supporters commemorated the one-year anniversary of the death of George Floyd. I participated in the local candlelight vigil at the Clinton Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church in Greenport. It was a well-organized and respectful gathering, presided over by Pastor Natalie R. Wimberly. It included several local clergy, a [...]
Every Shabbat morning, just before we open the Holy Ark and take out the Torah scrolls, we sing: “Source of compassion, favor Zion with Your goodness; build the walls of Jerusalem.” Throughout Jewish history, the walls of Jerusalem have represented the barometer of Jewish wellbeing. It’s the fence around the beating heart of our people. When [...]
For a long time, one of the top items on my bucket list was to climb down into the Grand Canyon. It was love of first sight 12 years ago, when I first visited, and again three years ago. On those visits, I was able to see the Canyon from the South Rim and then from [...]
