In Hebrew, the central character of this week’s Torah portion, Noah, rolls off your tongue. Just two letters – Nun and Chet – it means “to rest” or “to be at peace.” In English it’s a whole other matter completely. …
Torah Thoughts – Bereishit – Genesis 1:1-6:8 – “Starting the Year with Comfort Food”
The Book of Genesis is comfort food for the Jewish people. Like a good bowl of mac and cheese, or a Tim Horton’s donut, or, my personal favorite, a bowl of Cheerios, we start out with things so familiar we…
Torah Thoughts – Simchat Torah – Deuteronomy.14.22-16.17 – “Jewish Life Across Two Landscapes”
When entering Congregation Shir Shalom, you are greeted by two large canvases painted by the late Harvey Breverman. On one canvas are a group of teenagers gathered with their backs largely toward us, only one young man has his face…
Torah Thoughts – Sukkot – Leviticus 22:26-23:44; Numbers 29:12-16 – “From Bomb Shelters to Sukkahs”
Every building in Israel is required to have access to a bomb shelter. These are not necessarily separate structures but safe spaces inside stairwells and showers, where in the event of an attack, people will be safe. Depending on where…
Torah Thoughts – Ha’azinu – Deuteronomy 32:1-32:52 – In honor of Moses’ final poem, one I wrote
In honor of Moses’ final poem, one I wrote recently about my inability to blow the shofar. Enjoy! Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Alex “Shofar Lessons” Squish your lips Like a fish kiss Press them against the handle And let them vibrate…
Torah Thoughts – Nitzavim/Vayeilech – Deuteronomy.29.9-31.30 – “Raising Our Tents in Preparation for Rosh Hashanah”
Outside the Everett House on the campus of the Chautauqua Institute is a display of a tent from 1870. Unlike the elaborate popup tents of today, the design of the 19th century was simple – a tall wooden pole, a…
Torah Thoughts – Rosh Hashanah – Genesis 21:1-34 – “My Letter to the Children Born After 9/11”
To my three children, and the 100 million plus Americans under the age of 25, let’s talk. The silver anniversary of 9/11 is today and I need to tell you why it matters. When I was growing up, Pearl Harbor…
Torah Thoughts – Ki Tavo – Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8 – “Can you see Toronto from Highmark Stadium?”
Last week, Boaz and I, like so many fellow congregants, made the trek out to Orchard Park to see the new Highmark Stadium. As part of the open practice, we were given carte blanche to see the entirety of the…
Torah Thoughts – Ki Teitzei – Deuteronomy.21.10-25.19 – “Shedding the Garments of Captivity”
“Shedding the Garments of Captivity” With clothes ready to get dirty and a determination to make a difference, I joined fourteen other Jewish Federation employees to paint the second floor of the Cornerstone Manor on North Street in Buffalo. A…
Torah Thoughts – Shoftim – Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9 – “A New Highmark Peptalk”
The first kick off at the opening preseason game at Rich Stadium on August 17, 1973, did not go as expected. Washington running back Herb Mul-Key ran it back for a102-yard touchdown. The good news is that very few fans…