• Mar2026

    Purim

    March 1, 2026

    As we learned on Groundhog Day, our friend Punxsutawney Phil (the world famous weather predicting Groundhog), winter will continue for another 6 weeks.  But in our Jewish world, we endure the cold, wind and rain and we have entered the month of Adar.  Our expression from the Talmud, tractate Taanit...

  • Feb2026

    Strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel

    February 28, 2026

    My friends,   Normally for Shabbat, I strive to take a break from the news and the constant news updates we receive both on TV and online.  But with news of the strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel, being updated became a matter of urgency.  For some...

  • NBVC Thank you

    February 10, 2026

    Last month Rabbi Ron wrote about his visit to Navel Base Ventura County.  You can see the post here.  We wanted to share this thank you note from the Command Chaplain.  

  • Jan2026

    We are grateful all are home and we will not forget their struggles

    January 28, 2026

    My friend, in Judaism we are commanded to ‘remember’.  Remembrance is a major focus of who we are and how we recall where we came from.  Today is the day in 1945 that Auschwitz was liberated by the Red Army from the Nazis.  When I took part in March of...

  • NBVC

    January 26, 2026

    I wanted to share with the congregation that this morning I was at Navy Base Ventura County.  One of my projects has been to contact their Chaplaincy Unit and make known that CAH is in Ventura and able to offer Jewish support and worship for Jewish servicemen/women at NBVC.  In...

  • MLK Day

    January 19, 2026

    As we observe Martin Luther King day, I think it has more meaning to those of us who recall life in the US prior to the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. We recall a time in the US when all of our fellow citizens did not enjoy full rights...

  • Mississippi Arson

    January 13, 2026

    My friends, I wanted to share with you all the Board of Rabbis statement on the arson in Mississippi. I am as upset and angry about this crime as I am sure you are too. For me the message is, we must stay alert, we must ’see something/say something’. We...

  • Pivotal Moments

    January 1, 2026

    Coming into the New Year, I thought I’d begin by actually sharing some insights from Torah.  I know its a bit of a radical idea, a rabbi sharing thoughts from scripture, but there are two readings that sit with me and we did not have a chance to meet in...

  • Dec2025

    Horrific Attack at Chabad Chanukah Celebration in Bondi Beach, Australia

    December 14, 2025

    My friends, our joy in observing the Chanukah holiday is diminished by the news from Australia this morning.  My colleague, Rabbi Ahud Sela, wrote this note this morning from the LA Board of Rabbis.  I wanted to share his words with our community.  My words would be, we mourn and...

  • Chanukah

    December 1, 2025

    Heading into December, our thoughts turn to many things, Christmas holiday music from every speaker in the mall and on TV, thoughts of the New Year before us and for the Jewish community, we think of the Festival of Lights or Chanukah.  I want to share a few thoughts about...