SERMON: The Not-So-Super Halftime Show

I am lucky this month had an extra day, providing me a bit more time to reflect upon something historic that happened to me during the course of this month of February.  I can tell you exactly when it happened!  It happened on February 2 at 8:10 PM.  It was then that I discovered the answer to two questions about myself that are important to know.  At age 75, am I really getting old?  And at 75, am I becoming a dirty old man? READ MORE

SERMON: The Chosen

I have not really delivered a sermon for a while, and I’m not sure what to say because of what my granddaughter said from this pulpit two weeks ago.  READ MORE

SERMON: What Do Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Trump and Queen Elizabeth Have in Common?

The story is as old as the mountains, but it never seems to lose its relevance:

Three bubbies sitting on a park bench.
The first one lets out a heartfelt “Oy!”
A few minutes later, the second bubbie sighs deeply and says “Oy vey!”
A few minutes after that, the third lady brushes away a tear and moans, “Oy veyizmir!”
To which the first bubbie replies: “I thought we agreed we weren’t going to talk about our children!” READ MORE

SERMONS: Are the Jews Taking Over?

This Shabbat of our Weiner Tournament is always one of the most exciting weekends here at Beth Tfiloh.  The enthusiasm and vibrancy that these Jewish teenagers bring from across the country always challenges me to make my sermon relevant to a new generation.  So, to all of you back there – the new generation – and all of you up front – the old generation – let me discuss something that has happened which represents a major change between the two generations.   READ MORE

SERMON: The New Jewish Woman

Having a simcha in your family is always a time for reflection.  And as I reflect the beautiful gift that God gave us in Maya, I can’t get over how different our lives have been.  It’s not simply that she was born in a different generation, or even in a different century … it’s as if she and I were born into two different worlds!  READ MORE

SERMON: Millennials Reach for the Stars

What is a millennial?  You hear so much about millennials, but who are they?  I looked it up in Wikipedia, and this is what I found: “Millennials, also known as Generation Y, are the demographic cohort following Generation X, and preceding Generation Z.”  That’s what it says – and who am I to question Wikipedia?  But, it does go on to tell us that millennials, generally speaking, were born sometime between the early 1980s to the early 2000s.  So, I know how old they are, but what are they – and what makes them unique?   READ MORE

SERMON: What Makes a Human Being Human?

Today we began once again, at the beginning – the story of the creation of humanity.  In fact, I shouldn’t say “the story,” but two stories!  Down through the ages there are two stories that have been told on how God created man.  I’ll leave it to you to decide which one sounds more reasonable. READ MORE

SERMON: Crowd Control

So much has happened since Donald Trump became president.  Whether you voted for him or not, much of what has happened should have been expected considering how his presidency started.  Do you remember the first issue he presented to the American people?  It was right on the day he was inaugurated, when Trump claimed, contrary to visible evidence, that he had a larger crowd at his inauguration than Barack Obama did.  Now, I am asking you: Should it really make a difference one way or the other?  And I’m telling you: According to Jewish tradition, it does make a difference!  In ancient times we were keenly aware of this every seven years during the festival of Sukkot.  READ MORE

SERMON: Saving Gerald Gordon

Let me first give you the facts!  It took place on May 28, I was in Israel attending the meeting of the Board of Governors of Bar Ilan University.  At the time I was in Jerusalem, and that afternoon went to the Kotel – the Western Wall.  Whenever I know I’m going to the Wall I take along a list of the names of people at Beth Tfiloh who are ill and I recite a prayer for them.  One of the people I knew who was quite ill at that time was Gerald Gordon, a deeply beloved member of our congregation.  While reciting the prayer, I said to myself: You know what?  I am going to call him and see how he is doing.  READ MORE

SERMON: Behold the Day of Judgement High Holiday Liturgy

Hinei yom hadin … “Behold, the Day of Judgment has arrived.”  But as we prepare for God to judge us, tonight I want to do something a bit different.  I want to see how we judge each other.  I want to give some thought tonight on how you see me … and how we see one another. READ MORE