My grandmother and I had an incredible relationship. We traveled to Ecuador, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Egypt together. She introduced me to new ideas, books, art, and music. I remember watching world-events on the news and talking about the unfolding of history. She shared the wisdom gleaned from what she had experienced and seen throughout […]
Video of this sermon One day a group of American tourists traveling in Eastern Europe, went to visit the Chofetz Chaim. (In the rabbi world, famous rabbis have nicknames). When the tourists came to see him, they saw the world-famous Rabbi in a small study with a rickety desk and only a few books. One […]
Video of this sermon On December 14th, 2012 Noah Pozner and 25 other victims were murdered at Sandy Hook elementary school. Noah was a sweet, vivacious, six-year-old Jewish boy. We remember this horrifying news day well. In the years since, conspiracy groups have claimed that the Sandy Hook massacre was a hoax. Noah’s parents, Lenny […]
Years ago, during a visit to the Cairo museum, I stared into the face of Ramses II. Mummified and frozen in time, his body delicately preserved since the time of his death in 1213 BCE. Tradition tells us that Ramses enslaved and tried to destroy our people. My family was surprised (as were a few […]
I have an incredible knack – some even call it a skill – to kill every plant that’s been unfortunate enough to come near me. Even cacti and succulents can’t escape my death grip. While I’m not a great gardener myself, I actually love plants and I have read about and love the idea of […]
The Israeli Knesset recently passed a controversial “Nation-State law.” The law has received statements of opposition by Jewish organizations and communities from throughout the world. Please see the links below for more information from our Israeli partners in the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism and the Jewish Federations of North America. This is […]
The month of Elul – August 12-September 9 – is our prelude for the Days of Awe. The name of the Hebrew month, spelled aleph, lamed, vuv, lamed, has been understood by our sages as an acronym for the verse: “Ani l’dodi v’dodi li – I am my Beloved’s and my Beloved is mine.” Like […]
“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…” Inscribed over the entrance of the Statue of Liberty, Emma Lazarus’ poem illuminates some of our country’s best values. We are descendants of the women, men and children who came here looking for rights, liberty, security, and hope. Our ancestors came here […]
Members of our community have reached out in recent days in shock and horror that the administration is separating undocumented children from their parents. Rabbi Knight spoke about this issue last Shabbat. A portion of his sermon was published by the Washington Post. He also wrote an editorial to the Charlotte Observer. Tomorrow, leaders of […]