Yom Kippur 5780/2019: The Dangerous Sanctuary – RBW
Going into my second year of rabbinical school, I was awarded a scholarship to offset my tuition, but it came with a string attached. It was endowed by a congregation…
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Kol Nidre 5780/2019: The Slippers of Abu Kassem – RBW
For my friend Jane, Hannah bat Shlomo, of blessed memory. A few months later, I found, in the cup holder of my car, one of the cheap blue surgical masks…
Read More Rosh Hashanah 5780/2019: Akedah – Hazzan Diana Brewer
Shanah Tovah! It is with great gratitude that I stand here in this spot today. As I read today’s Torah reading, wondering what might inspire me for this task, I…
Read More D’var Torah 5/11/19: Kedoshim – Batya Perman
Before I begin, I want to take a moment to acknowledge my parents, Edith and Paul Perman and all of my family, especially my grandfather, Max Perman (Yechiel Mordecai ben…
Read More D’var Torah 12/22/18: Vayechi – Richard Cohen
I’m giving this davar in recognition of my recent birthday and 57th anniversary of my Bar Mitzvah—you can do the math. My first davar 57 years ago is a story in itself.…
Read More Yom Kippur 5779/2018: Sacred Fear – RBW
Today I’m going to talk to you about fear. (How’s that for taking the bull by the horns) In August, as part of my “let’s all stay for musaf” campaign,…
Read More Kol Nidre 5779/2018: Zagreb and the Belly of the Whale – RBW
Tomorrow afternoon, according to custom, we’ll read my favorite volume of the Bible: the book of Jonah. Jonah is unique among the prophets. He’s the one who doesn’t say “here…
Read More Rosh Hashanah Day Two 5779/2018 (5775 redux): Out into the Field or The Voice of the Angel – RBW
Vayehi ahar had’varim ha’eleh… (Genesis 22:1) And it was after these things that Efraim woke up from his nap one Sunday afternoon. I heard his voice through the monitor on the…
Read More Rosh Hashanah Day One 5779/2018: The Horn of Abraham – RBW
One morning at breakfast, when we were all visiting together at my mother’s house this summer, my nephew Nathan, who will became bar mitzvah next year, told us about the…
Read More D’var Torah 2/10/18: Parashat Mishpatim – Rabbi Devorah Jacobson
(With thanks to Margaret Mastrangelo, Rabbi Ben Weiner, and Zvi Rozen) Like some of you here today, I spent many years of my childhood going to Hebrew school. I know…
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