To friends, students, and colleagues, After a bit of soul-searching, I have decided not to hold class today and yes, Tisha b'Av is on my mind. I had thought originally that it would be a good idea to do so, especially because Noah had summoned me to Camp Vistors Day and it would mean that we would … [Read more...]

Today -- 'Av is here, should we all beware' . . . destruction or opportunity? i.e. was this a destruction -- or was it an opportunity? And as for that so-called message of destruction and lamentation: "the lady doth protest too much, me thinks" Hamlet, Act III, Scene II Note: This phrase is used … [Read more...]

Black Sabbath: not meant to be overly complicated . . . This coming Shabbat is: Shabbat Chazon (Which can be translated as the "Sabbath of Vision" / שבת חזון) and is named for the "Vision of Isaiah over Judah and Jerusalem" (here: Isaiah 1:1-27). It s read as the Haftarah on this coming Shabbat … [Read more...]

Our hands . . . Where is the city of refuge now? What have we done . . . ? Pay attention, we are entering a time period of serious internal introspection among the Jewish people and among the Jewish communities of the world -- The Hebrew month of Av. -- A month of setback, a month of failure, and … [Read more...]

Cities of Refuge -- No Place to run to -- No place to hide . . . What is a 'place' of refuge? A place to 'hide away' or is it a place to 'bring us closer together'? ____________ Some of you may remember Rabbi David Wolpe as he grew up here in the Philadelphia area before going off to the … [Read more...]