What makes a value Jewish? This parallels the question of what makes art Jewish? Is it the subject? The artist?  In the case of Jewish values, is it the value? The fact that it is a Jew living that value? … Continue reading →

Let’s celebrate Chanukah per our values. Let’s tell the story beyond, “You know…it’s about the oil that lasted for 8 days.”  Let us understand our history including the forces at work to assimilate us and the courage it took to … Continue reading →

Delivered on World AIDS Day at Good Shepherd Wellness I am honored to be here… and wish that there was no such thing as World AIDS Day. I wish there was no such thing as AIDS. I wish there was … Continue reading →

In this week’s Torah portion  (Gen. 25:8-10), we read: And Abraham breathed his last, dying at a good ripe age, old and contented; and he was gathered to his kin. His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave … Continue reading →

There are programs that we plan that have good potential for being engaging and meaningful and often they are just that though sometimes, they are not. The way that Temple David observed the Fourth Anniversary of the attack at Tree … Continue reading →

On Yom Kippur, my sermon “Claiming Our Noun,” ended with this: Let us no longer choose to say I am Jewish, with Judaism on the periphery, the perimeter; in our mouths but not in our souls; in our Hebrew names … Continue reading →

It doesn’t have to be complicated. A simple apple dipped in honey is as sweet and delicious as the most intricate, ornate dish and allows us to celebrate God’s creation in its purest form. The sound of a shofar wakes … Continue reading →

In thinking about how to kick off a religious school year focused on history, I thought about giving each student a Wandering Jew (Tradescantia Zebrina) plant which they could nurture throughout the year, complete with photos and Facebook posts to … Continue reading →

When challenges arise, it is easier to approach them in partnership than alone and it is easier still to approach them when the partnerships have been long-since formed. That is the case with the Monroeville Interfaith Ministerium. Rabbi Edelstein (z”l) … Continue reading →

July 30-31, 2022 Temple David loves Cross Roads! What good work you do and what a pleasure it has been to get to know Pastor Lindsay. How lucky you are! How lucky the Monroeville Interfaith Ministerium is! How lucky we … Continue reading →