This holiday is a tricky one. During any other celebration, the mere date and time dictate what the holiday is. Rosh Hashanah is about the beginning of the year, Passover is about our peoples’ exodus from Egypt. Even Yom Kippur, we are given a way to navigate the commandment to...
Finalize plans with the extended family? Check. Plan out the menu? Check. Order the meat? Check. Clean the house? Check. Polish the silver? Check. Put out the good china? Check. Find something for the kids to wear to services? Check. Run around for weeks on end until you’re too exhausted...
Not “Goodbye” but “Be Seeing You” My dear Am HaYam Family, Our tradition teaches: kol hat-cha-lot kashot, “all beginnings are difficult.” This phrase has been something that many speakers, ancient and modern, religious or secular, have used. I myself have said it many times. But as I prepare to end...
The Value of the Violin in You The story is told of the great Jewish-born violinist Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962).[1] Some critics had suggested that the only reason he made such beautiful music was because of the Stradivarius he played. So on one particular concert night, Kreisler enraptured the audience with...
A Passover Lesson: Don’t Let Opportunities Become Chametz Why did the matzah quit his job?.…Because it didn’t get a raise. What army base is off limits on Passover?.…Fort Leavenworth. Why did the matzah go to the doctor?.…Because it started feeling crumby Why did the matzah baker rob the bank?….He needed...
Ne’ilah: Goldberg’s Pencils (delivered by Rabbi J.B. Sacks on September 25, 2023) A reporter traveled across the country in search of interesting stories. She arrived at a small town in the Midwest. At first, it seemed like every other town she had visited. However, one thing was different: No...
Jewish Simplicity A lion can actually capture, kill, and eat a field mouse. However, it turns out that the energy to do that is greater than the caloric content of the mouse. So, if a lion spent the whole day hunting and eating field mice… it would slowly starve itself...
How to Experience G!d It is important to realize that G!d is to be experienced. It is equally important to understand that G!d cannot be captured in any one thing, nor reduced to a single moment or phenomenon. We sometimes think we can contain G!d in a thing, and thereby...
PAINTING JERUSALEM: Modern Artists Portray Jerusalem (A teaching by Rabbi Sacks in honor of Yom Yerushalayim, May 18, 2023) [NOTE: This was part of a two-part session. Lifelong Learning Chair Fran Lande taught the first part, which focused on how Jerusalem remains sacred to three major world religions: Judaism, Christianity,...
Israel Shabbat: Celebrating Israel’s 75th Birthday (Special services and a Shirah B’tzibbur Singalong were held on April 21-22) We celebrated Israel’s 75th birthday with a special Israel Shabbat. On Friday night Rabbi Sacks and Student Rabbi Maayan Lev led us in a special liturgy conceived, compiled and edited by Rabbi...
