Yes, you read that correctly. Today is the final edition of the Thursday Kesher Quick email.  Over the last few months, we've realized how many emails we send in a week. It's a lot. Too many, in fact. Our goal is for congregants to know just how many events and initiatives are happening at Temple Emanu-El, and we've heard the feedback that stuffing your email inboxes is not the way. You'll notice a few significant changes in our marketing and communication beginning Monday, July 15th.   You'll receive the Kesher Quick every Monday, which includes the Rabbi's message and calendar events for the upcoming weeks.   We will continue to send birth announcements and bereavement notices to the congregation, as well as other non-event-related announcements, as needed.  Individual events, initiatives, and updates will be posted on social media Facebook  and Instagram .  If you're not on social media, you will still have access to all important information through the Monday Kesher Quick, your … [Read more...]

In 1938, Jewish songwriter Irving Berlin published the unofficial national anthem, God Bless America. The original, drafted in 1918, was cut from the show he was working on. The song's early lyrics included a line that divided Americans. The text read:        God Bless America, land that I love       Stand beside her       And guide her       To the right with the light from above.  By 1938, he needed a song that would bring Americans together as the war in Europe loomed.    The words that came to be in 1938, still taught to children today, read:         God bless America, land that I love 
       Stand beside her       And guide her        Through the night with the light from above.   May God bless America, a land that I love. With light from above I pray that we will be able to come together so that from the mountains to the prairies, to the ocean white with foam, that American can remain a home, sweet home, that brings us great pride.   On this 4th of July, the 248th year of … [Read more...]

It's been nice to be back in the office for the latter half of June, and then in July I'll conclude my sabbatical in Israel, studying at The Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. While there, I have the honor of officiating my first wedding in Israel.  The groom is Marita's cousin, who is marrying an amazing woman who is a Jew from Germany who recently made Aliyah.  They have already signed marriage paperwork in Europe, so the ceremony in Tel Aviv does not have to include the orthodox rabbanut. Yesterday, the three of us met over Zoom for the final 'pre-marriage' counseling session.  As we were settling into the conversation, I asked how they were doing, and how the war in Gaza (and unrest in the north with Hezbollah) was affecting the daily life of regular people…who are in school, going to work, and living their lives nine months after October 7th. They shared that Israelis are used to holding two realities at the same time.  On the one hand, they are going about their lives.   On … [Read more...]

Hello Temple Emanu-El! Well… I'm back (for a short while, I'm heading to Jerusalem to study in July) for a sabbatical, and it was everything that I hoped it would be.   I'll share a story (and lesson learned) or two at Shabbat services tomorrow night, in what I hope will be a light and spiritually uplifting service.  With all the heaviness that we Jews are experiencing with Israel and antisemitism, we need the respite of Shabbat to feel joy and community through song, stories, and tradition. At least sometimes… However, along those lines of a heavy heart, I do want to share an uplifting story that just happened today.  Earlier this week, I was driving my son, Moses, to driving school and we passed that little church on the corner of Spalding and Roberts.  You know the one.   It's called Faith Cornerstone Church. He pointed as we went past and said, "Hey dad, look!  They have an Israeli flag next to the American flag in front of their building." And he was right. We called … [Read more...]

Two months ago, Rabbi Max and I moved to a new neighborhood. On Saturday evening, we attended our first ever HOA party. We quickly learned that these gatherings follow a script. After an exchange of pleasantries, every conversation continued like this: Household 1: How long have you been in the neighborhood? Where's the house? Household 2: [Responds and reflects the questions back.] Household 1: [Explains where their house is located in the neighborhood and then says] Oh how nice, you're going to love it here. Have any kids? Household 2: [Responds and reflects the question back, including an inquiry about grandkids depending on the perceived ages of Household #1] Household 1: So what do ya'll do for a living? This question is always leads to one of three responses: People respond with "mmmm," they nod and then change subjects. Others say, "Oh wow, I didn't know women could be rabbis." Then there are those who say, "Interesting, how does one become a rabbi?" This question never makes me … [Read more...]