Sermons

07/21/2018

Devarim 5778: “How?”

One of my teachers pointed out that two of the most common criticisms of Orthodox Judaism directly contradict each other. One criticism is that Orthodoxy is a fossil, never changing and frozen in the past. The other criticism is that we are constantly inventing new humras – new ways to be strict! “My parents’ Orthodox shul had mixed…
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07/07/2018

Pinchas 5778: “Transitions”

When I was in yeshiva I was told a cautionary tale of a rabbi who got into a great deal of trouble when he was caught with an entire filing cabinet in his office that was filled with pre-written eulogies for the entire board of directors for his shul. That story came to mind this week. …
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06/16/2018

Korach 5778: “Stay Away From the Tents of the Wicked”

Today is the yahrzeit of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. My grandmother was married to a veteran Lubavitcher Chassid who died before I ever got to know him, but I grew up knowing that my grandmother had an extensive extended Hassidic family and that the Lubavitcher Rebbe was a powerful inspiration to her. The first part of our daughter Sophie’s…
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06/02/2018

Baha’alotcha 5778: “The Menorah and Holistic Enlightenment”

Rabbi Aryeh Leib Steinman was the last living Lithuanian Talmudic scholar and rosh yeshiva whose education primarily took place in pre-War Europe. At the time of his death last winter, he was recognized as perhaps the most influential “gadol” – great rabbinic figure and religious authority for the Lithuanian – Litvak – branch of Haredi Judaism. He was…
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05/26/2018

Naso 5778: “Royalty”

I have discovered a new source for sermon inspiration. The sign outside of the Broadway Methodist Church often displays an inspiration quip or message and this week the sign said “Congratulations to Prince Harry and Meghan.” And indeed, news of the royal wedding and pictures of the royal wedding filled the papers this week. It has been very…
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05/12/2018

Behar-Behukotai: “Counting to Sinai”

Almost seventy years ago on the English calendar a very momentous conversation occurred. In the aftermath of Ben Gurion’s declaration of Israeli independence the only religious member of the provisional government, overcome with emotion recited the Birkat Shechechiyanu, the blessing recited upon hearing good news or in the aftermath of good fortune, in which we thank…
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05/05/2018

Emor 5778: “Let Your Left Hand Push Away While Your Right Hand Draws Near”

I don’t know when the first human being is going to be cloned, but I do know where the first human being will be cloned and I know who that person will be and I know why. I’m talking about the reproductive cloning of human beings – not cloning an extra kidney or an extra liver in…
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04/28/2018

Acharei Mot-Kedoshim 5778: “In This Way Shall He Enter the Sanctuary”

What if there were only one shul in the world? Some questions would become easy to answer. “Where are you going to make the bris?”“There’s one shul in the world!” “Where will you be for Pesach?”“There’s only one shul in the world!” “Where will you celebrate your daughter’s bat mitzvah?”“There’s one shul in the world.” …
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04/14/2018

Shmini 5778: “Seventy Years is Ripe Old Age: Zionism in a Post-Ideological Age”

How many times have you heard someway say, with pride, “you can walk into any synagogue in the world and they will be reading the very same words out of the Torah scroll?” I know I’ve heard people say that. But it is not true. At least not this week. Because the eighth day of…
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03/03/2018

Ki Tissa 5778: “Building Jerusalem: In Those Days at This Time”

Today is an auspicious day on the Jewish calendar. It is the 16th day of Adar, the anniversary of a very important event in Jewish history. According to Megilat Ta’anit, an ancient list of important dates and historical commemorations, most of which have long been forgotten, we are told that on the 16th of Adar, Nehemiah…
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