I delivered this sermon on 11/28/2014 at Temple Emanuel: Hodu l’adonai ki tov, ki l’olam chasdo –Give thanks to God for God is good, God’s compassion is everlasting. Thanksgiving is a time to appreciate – the people in our lives about whom we care most, the fact that we can hopefully enjoy an abundance of…
Prayer to End Gun Violence
A copy of the prayer I delivered at an interfaith rally to end gun violence, sponsored by Colorado Faith Communities United to End Gun Violence, of which Temple Emanuel is a founding member: Avinu She’bashamaim, our Holy One in heaven, with solemnity and courage we stand before you today. For too long we have stood…
Leading a Values-based Life
I am standing in the middle of Cherry Creek State Park on a beautiful morning. I look west toward the mountains which sit enveloped in a summer haze. The green trees in the distance rustle in the wind. I pick up a shell from my pocket and drop it in the lower barrel of the…
Lebron James, Welcome Home
In the winter of 2003 I was walking through my college quad when I decided to call my parents. Usually available, I was surprised when they said that they couldn’t talk because they were going to the University of Akron to watch some high school student who was supposed to be this big new star…
We must stop anti-Semitism in all corners of society.
We all engage in activities we really enjoy but feel ashamed about. For me, this activity is reading Gizmodo.com, a popular gadget blog run by Gawker media. I have been reading this website regularly for about 10 years, beginning when I was a computer science major in College. The writing isn’t great, the flagrant self-promotion…
Turning Baseless Hatred into Unconditional Love
Parashat V’etchanan, 5774. August 8th, 2014 Rabbi Brian Immerman I did not attend the rally for Israel last week at the state capital, primarily for two reasons. First, I was skeptical when I learned it was sponsored by Americans Against Terrorism, an organization whose messages I believe cross the line from supporting Israel to fueling…
Prayer for Israel
Yihi Ratzon Milfanecha, our God and God of our ancestors, as we gather on another tragic day of violence in Israel, we pray for peace among those who dwell in her land. May you shelter the land with protection so that our brothers can emerge from their bomb shelters. May you shower the land with…
Do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbors
Sixteen years ago, and just as young, I packed my backpack with my homework, grabbed a sack lunch from our refrigerator, and I left for the walk to school. I crossed Lee Road at Fernway, normally a busy intersection, and noticed it was quiet. I looked to the South and saw some Police tape –…
For the Love of Judaism!
When I was a kid, my dad and I would put on our Cleveland Indians gear from head to toe and drive in our blue Toyota corolla to the gravel parking lot beside Cleveland’s Municipal stadium. I still remember when we would walk into the cavern that rarely saw attendance rise above 12,000 people. I…
Rabbi Brian Immerman 