Shemot 5781 The Final Hour? There arose a new King in Egypt who did not know Joseph [Exodus 1:4]. In life, we are ultimately judged by our final hour, not

Miketz 5781 Two Chief Cupbearers And the sar hamashkim (the chief cupbearer) did not remember Joseph and forgot him (Genesis 40:23). And the sar hamashkim spoke up and said to

Shabbat Vayeshev Hanukkah 5781 The COVID-19 Hanukkah This year we celebrate our Festival of Lights in the midst of a dreadful pandemic, and, for far too many, literally in the

Shabbat Vayishlach 5781 Of Deborah and Mary Deborah, Rebecca's nurse, died and was buried under the oak below Beth El (Genesis 35:8). Deborah's death is recorded following Jacob's settling in

Happy Thanksgiving To Our Ahavath Achim Family: This is a grateful time of year. It is the time when we reflect on our lives, our families, and all the elements

A Note of Gratitude Dear Friends, I want to thank those of you who offered condolences to me at the time of my father's death in October. Of course, I

Noach 5781 The First Quarantine Noah and his family stuck in the ark for one year and one week is the first recorded quarantine. I suspect that he was tired

Succot 5781 Making Music with What Remains I was saddened, but not surprised, by the news of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death. It was obvious that she was fighting a

Rosh Hashanah 5781 Adapting Living with the pandemic is an ongoing challenge. Changes in our lives have affected relationships and altered how and where we do our work, study and

Shofetim 5780 Life Matters Justice Justice shall you pursue… (Deuteronomy 16:18) If one is found slain… Lying in the field and it is not known who has slain him… The

He Bent the Arc Reflections on Representative John Lewis The Israelite rebellion in response to the Spies' report regarding the Land of Israel, found in the Book of Numbers, sealed

Devarim (Shabbat Hazon) 5780 He Bent the Arc In the first chapter of Deuteronomy, the fifth of the Five Books of Moses that we begin reading this Shabbat, Moses praises