ROSH HASHANAH SECOND DAY: T’FILLAH, T’SHUVAH, ACTION! (Torah discussion led by Rabbi J.B. Sacks)   Introduction to Study/Exploration Our custom here at Am HaYam is to begin the year by studying together on Second Day Rosh HaShanah. In general, I try to place before us three texts that come from three different places, even three different […]

First Morning Rosh HaShanah: Managing Transitions (delivered by Rabbi Sacks on September 16, 2023) My roommate tells me: “I think it’s time we address the elephant in the room.” I respond: “Okay, where are we sending it?” I bought my friend an elephant for his room. He said, “Thanks.” I said, “Don’t mention it.” On […]

Erev Rosh HaShanah: Practice, Priorities, People (delivered by Rabbi J.B. Sacks on September 15, 2023) In 2009 archaeologists unearthed an ancient synagogue in the city of Migdal on the Sea of Galilee. It was established over 2,000 years ago. It’s fascinating. The Jewish community of ancient Migdal built a synagogue at a time when Jewish […]

Parashat Ki Tavo: Paying Attention This Coming New Year (Torah study led by Rabbi J.B. Sacks on September 2, 2023) We are all preparing for Rosh HaShanah. These preparations should include more than considerations of holiday dinner menu, getting apparel off to the dry cleaners, and making sure we return our forms from the High […]

Parashat Ki Tavo: How to Bring Bikkurim (delivered by Rabbi J.B. Sacks on September 1, 2023) Tomorrow’s Torah reading speaks of the bringing of bikkurim, first fruits, to the Temple, during which they would make a specific declaration. This declaration presents the precise wording that the farmer used when addressing G!d. Later the Mishnah[1] records […]

Rosh HaShanah Second Day: The Tree and You (A Community Discussion led by Rabbi J.B. Sacks on September 27, 2022)   We just put the Torah away, and the last words we sang were the Eitz Chayyim Hi. It is actually sung whenever we read the Torah. The chumash that we usually use to follow […]

Rosh HaShanah First Morning: Listening to All Our Voices (Delivered by Student Rabbi Maayan Lev on September 26, 2022)  It’s so wonderful to be with all of you in this new year, the year 5783. This is my first time being at Congregation Am HaYam for Rosh HaShanah, and it’s so wonderful to start the […]

Erev Rosh HaShanah: Rekindling Our Pintele Yid (Delivered by Rabbi Sacks on September 25, 2022)   My practice on Erev Rosh HaShanah is to tell a story and to see what lessons it might yield. Tonight’s story is a true account, a travel story from a professional traveler. Some of you may remember the Birnbaum […]

Coming to Pray These High Holy Days (A text journey & sermon delivered by Rabbi Sacks on Saturday, September 17, 2022) Some years ago Israeli archaeologists were cleaning a wall in the remains of a fourth or fifth century synagogue they had uncovered in Meroth in Upper Galilee. Suddenly a small metal artifact fell onto […]

Haftarat Shoftim: Do You Hear The Herald? (A discussion led by Student Rabbi Maayan Lev on September 3, 2022)   This week’s haftarah is the fourth of the seven haftarot of consolation following Tish’ah B’Av. Like the others, it comes from Deutero-Isaiah.[1] The text comforts the exiled Israelites, telling them that the day is coming […]