Dear Friends: The burning question of the week seems to be why I have finally relented and opened a Facebook account. (Some of you will remember when I resisted email too!) Let me answer in several ways. The first is that Ben Wachstein, our executive director, framed this conversation for me in a way that no one else had before. He reminded me that this is where people are, and we need to be where they are, where so many of YOU are! Two thoughts came to mind for me. First, I

Dear Friends: I have always said that my theology is one of thanks giving. Truly, I think that’s what our tradition intends for us. We are not among those whose theology is to provide a path to an afterlife. Our theology asks for things, but on a global level to benefit all, not as much on the personal level of my needs and wants. And while our tradition answers many of life’s big questions, I have never felt like that is what is at its core. Think about our day. We wake up a

Dear Friends: I am very proud that 4 of our current congregants entered into the political fray that played out on Election Day on Tuesday. Doing so, regardless of party affiliation, subjects one to attacks and scrutiny. As I have often shared, politics is just one way that we observe the Biblical mandate to pursue justice. Mazel Tov to Jeff Wright, Donna DiMeo, Bruce Roth, and Jack Enco. I am often honored with the task of sharing our congregation’s history with others. The

Dear Friends: Jump ahead a week with me. In the Torah, in the portion called Chayyei Sarah, the Life of Sarah, we actually learn of her death. Bookending that, at the end of the portion, we are told of the death of Abraham. In a few weeks, when we get to the end of Sefer Breishit, (the Book of Genesis), Jacob will ask his son, Joseph, to see that at the time of his death, he is treated with chesed shel emet, true kindness. In each case, our patriarchs and matriarchs were trea