We strike the match to the matchbook and from nothing a flame emerges and dances before us. Just like God we create – light appears where once there was none. We marvel at our creation as it quickly creeps toward our fingers – and then light not one but two wicks. Zachor v’shamor – remember…
Author: swimfast
Showing Love by Standing with Our Neighbors
The best thing we can do in the fight for racial justice is to show up, be present, and stand with our black and brown brothers and sisters. This is how we show love and create a stronger community
Finding Hope in a Broken World
Hayom Harat Olam – Rosh Hashanah is the birthday of the world. Today marks just over three months since Jenny and I welcomed Aiden into our lives. My dearest Aiden, There is a tree across the street from our synagogue that takes away my breath every time I see it in the Spring and Fall….
Testing Our Love of the Stranger
As we just read in our Torah, God called out to Abraham: “Abraham, Abraham,” “Hineini,” Abraham replied, “Here I am.” “Abraham, take your son, your only son, the son whom you love, Isaac, and take him up to a mountain, and there I want you to sacrifice him as an offering to me.” Aside from…
Loving as a Community in Times of Grief
This past Shabbat I was feeling sense of elation as I started to walk out of the Sanctuary with our Bar Mitzvah, Dylan. I told him how proud I was of him and he beamed with pride. His friends ran into hug him and tell him that he did awesome. As the community entered the…
We Will Not Remain Silent
Dear Friends, This morning I emerged from our sanctuary filled with joy and hope after celebrating another wonderful student becoming a bar mitzvah. During his d’var Torah, our student taught us the important lesson from Abraham that we should be kind to others, both our neighbor and the stranger. My elation was quickly diminished as…
A Message of Hope for Israel’s Future
I was not born into a Zionist home. When Israel became a country in 1948 my grandparents in Cleveland left the Synagogue where Zionist Abba Hillel Silver was the rabbi and went to a new synagogue because they worried that if the Jews had a home, America would expel them much like the Germans. When…
Shana Tova, My Little One
To my little one,
If I’m reading this on the bima, it means that you have not yet arrived in this world. You are still safe and sound and everything you need is provided for you….
Finding Comfort in Unexpected Places: A Passover Yizkor Sermon
There was once a boy named Paul who was quite young, his family had one of the first telephones in his neighborhood, a polished, old case, fastened to the wall. The shiny receiver hung on the side of the box. He was too little to reach the telephone, but used to listen with fascination when…
Lighting the Light Within
One of the most iconic movie scenes in my memory is when Darth Vader removes his helmet at the end of Return of the Jedi. Behind the black hardened exterior we witness a disfigured and defeated man who struggles to breathe. Having removed his mask, he seems compassionate and sad at his imminent death, and…
