I like to say that the Torah ends on a cliffhanger. After generations of promises and forty years of wandering, the Israelites are ready to enter the Promised Land. Moses has died. Joshua is their leader. They stand at the border, with a new chapter of their lives waiting
Today is the twenty-seventh day of Elul. Rosh HaShanah begins Friday evening; after these weeks of preparation, we are almost ready to stand together at the threshold of 5787. Our theme, Da lifnei mi atah omed, “Know before whom you stand,” asks us to enter these sacred days with
This Shabbat is the twenty-third day of Elul. Our Selichot study and worship is tomorrow evening. The High Holy Days are drawing nearer and nearer, and our theme, Da lifnei mi atah omed—“Know before whom you stand”—invites us to look beyond ourselves and notice the people standing beside us. The
This Shabbat is the sixteenth day of Elul. As we move closer to the High Holy Days, our cheshbon hanefesh—our spiritual accounting—asks us not only to consider who we are, but also what we stand for. Our theme, Da lifnei mi atah omed—“Know before whom you stand”—guides us through
Dear Friends, We are now entering the second week of Elul, the month that invites us to prepare spiritually for the High Holy Days. This Shabbat is the ninth day of Elul, which means our journey toward the new year is already underway. Our High Holy Days theme this year
We are now entering the second week of Elul, the month that invites us to prepare spiritually for the High Holy Days. This Shabbat is the ninth day of Elul, which means our journey toward the new year is already underway. Our High Holy Days theme this year is
A City of Refuge Close to Home I recently returned from two wonderful weeks at OSRUI. Camp days are long—sometimes twenty hours long—and somehow every minute feels worthwhile. I was assigned to Gesher, the middle school unit whose campers live in cabins and spend part of each day pursuing
Every so often, my phone sends me a notification from Google Photos: "Rediscover this day" or "A look back." It pulls together pictures from years ago—sometimes from a vacation or a holiday, but just as often from an ordinary afternoon I had completely forgotten. What always surprises me is
Over the past month, I have been asked the same question countless times: "Are you ready to become senior rabbi?" My answer is usually the same: Most days, I'm excited. Occasionally, I'm terrified. The truth is that both feelings are honest. Both have their place. In this week's Torah portion, Sh'lach L'cha, Moses sends twelve scouts to survey the
As we move into the month of May, many of us can feel the pace of life beginning to quicken. The end of the school year brings a calendar full of meaningful moments: we will celebrate Rabbi Cohen and all that he has given to our community, honor our
