Erev RH 2016 A man was taking it easy, lying on the grass and looking up at the clouds. He was identifying shapes when he decided to talk to God. “God”, he said, “how long is a million years?” God answered, “In my frame of reference, it’s about a minute.” The man asked, “God, how Continue Reading »
RH morning 2016 Rabbi Nancy Rita Myers A man visits a therapist because he has a fear of monsters living under his bed. He has been seeing this doctor for months. Every time he comes in, the doctor asks “Have you made any progress?” The man says, “No.” He then decides to go and see Continue Reading »
A Chasidic teaching states “Just as the hand, held before the eye, can hide the tallest mountain, so the routine of everyday life can keep us from seeing the vast radiance and the secret wonders that fill the world.” It’s so easy when we are busy to miss the radiance and wonder in the world Continue Reading »
I’m back. I want to thank all of you for supporting me and our synagogue during my sabbatical. It was my hope for the synagogue to be okay in my absence. I’ve been happy to hear that all has been well and this is because of so many of you. First all, thank you to Continue Reading »
I would like to say that it’s hard to believe that my son’s Bar Mitzvah is right around the corner but I do believe it. Heck, I’ve been nagging him daily to practice for months. As I watch him planted in front of the computer with some kind of action video game, I interrupt with, Continue Reading »
It’s been my honor to work with Kim Zabinski for the last 12 years at Temple Beth David. I have always appreciated her gentle personality. I’ve never seen Kim once lose her temper even at times when we would all understand. There is a quiet dignity in the way she interacts with others. I’ve seen Continue Reading »
Many of you are already aware that I’ll be going on sabbatical February 1, 2016 – July 30, 2016. Rabbis generally are entitled to a sabbatical after 7 years. Sabbaticals are intended for rabbis “to seek spiritual and physical reinvigoration through a program of study and travel.” Many rabbis use their sabbatical to “recharge their Continue Reading »
I know the Iran deal is deeply controversial in our country and within our community as well. I wanted to share with you a thoughtful statement from the Reform movement. I like it because I too am very concerned about divisions within the Jewish community, the relationship between the governments of the United States and Continue Reading »
So, I survived my two weeks working at Camp Newman in Northern California. I have to say first and foremost that I was impressed with the Jewish learning and teen bonding that occurs up there. From the first moment a new camper is welcomed into his/her bunk, there is the singing of “Haveinu Shalom Aleichem, Continue Reading »
“I’m not sure what I’ll be doing. What my day will look like is completely unknown to me. I don’t have any friends going. I’ll be sleeping away from my home. I probably won’t like the food either.” These could be sentiments shared by our children and teens before they go to overnight camp, but Continue Reading »