Islam

May 16, 2024

An Invitation From a Zionist to Non- or Anti-Zionists: Talk to Me

For the non-Zionists or anti-Zionist in my circle, a sincere set of questions from a Zionist. I’m actually looking to understand where you are coming from, so these aren’t gotcha questions. I’ve been working on this for a week or more, but held off posting so as not to intrude on people’s marking Yom Hazikkaron,… Continue reading

Antisemitism, Community Relations, Current Affairs, Equality, Ethics, Freedom, Gaza, History, Holocaust, Inclusion, Interfaith Dialogue, Islam, Israel, Justice, Peace, Speech Ethics, Terrorism, Tikkun Olam, Yom Haatzmaut, Young Jewish Adult, Youth
September 11, 2021

Five Spiritual Imperatives on the 20th Anniversary of 9/11

These were my words at services on Shabbat morning. I may have been the last adult in New York City to be aware that the attack on the World Trade Center towers had occurred. Laurie went to work in midtown, and I was home with two-and-a-half-year-old Alex getting ready for an upcoming trip to my… Continue reading

9/11, Calendar, Current Affairs, Freedom, High Holidays, History, Holidays, Islam, Israel, Justice, Leadership, Peace, Rosh Hashanah, Terrorism, Tikkun Olam, Tzedek, USA, Yamim Noraim
August 16, 2021

This Week’s Catastrophe in Afghanistan

I have specific memories from the newspapers of the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan, and of exactly where I was when the U.S. campaign against the Taliban began after 9/11, parking my car after dropping off the rest of the family as we met some friends for an outdoor festival in New York as things were… Continue reading

9/11, Books, Current Affairs, Freedom, History, Islam, Justice, Leadership, USA
February 9, 2020

Why I Am Voting for Sen. Klobuchar This Tuesday

#thinkinparagraphs For my NH undecided friends, and for people out there in states voting soon who haven’t picked a candidate: I’m not registered as a member of a political party, but on Tuesday I am going to take a Democratic ballot and vote for Sen. Amy Klobuchar. I didn’t decide finally until about a week… Continue reading

Antisemitism, Calendar, Community Relations, Current Affairs, Election, Ethics, Freedom, Health Care, Islam, Israel, Jerusalem, Justice, Leadership, Tikkun Olam, Tzedakah, Tzedek, USA
February 9, 2020

How I Decide Who to Vote For

This is an attempt to write down something I’ve never written out before: how I decide whom to vote for in elections for national office. This is how I understand what I am doing. There’s plenty here to discuss or argue about. Voting is in one way the most morally consequential thing we do. The… Continue reading

Antisemitism, Calendar, Community Relations, Current Affairs, Election, Ethics, Freedom, Health Care, History, Immigration, Inclusion, Islam, Israel, Justice, Leadership, Money, Peace, Tikkun Olam, Torah, Tzedakah, Tzedek, USA
April 29, 2019

My Letter After Poway

This is the letter I wrote our congregation today. Dear Friends: Once again we are mourning and raging after an anti-Semitic attack on a synagogue over the weekend. Lori Gilbert Kaye was a dedicated member of Chabad of Poway, and she was killed as she tried to protect Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein, who was injured. Almog… Continue reading

Antisemitism, Calendar, Community Relations, Current Affairs, Freedom, History, Holocaust, Inclusion, Interfaith Dialogue, Islam, Justice, Leadership, Prayer, Shoah, Terrorism, Tikkun Olam, Tzedek, USA, Yom Hashoah
March 26, 2019

AIPAC and Democrats This Week

Writing about AIPAC, on a day when seven Israelis were hurt by a missile shot indiscriminately toward Israeli cities by Hamas. Outraged, and praying for their healing. This week’s AIPAC Policy Conference is a gathering of about 18,000 people in Washington, DC. Many of the candidates for president on the Democratic side made a public… Continue reading

Antisemitism, Community Relations, Current Affairs, Election, Gaza, Interfaith Dialogue, Islam, Israel, Leadership, Peace, USA
March 10, 2019

The Megillah, Rep. Omar, and Where We Go From Here

This post is based on the D'var Torah I gave at services on Saturday, March 9, 2019. I also plan another post with some thoughtful articles on the topic from other sources. I always set out extra books for services in addition to the Siddurim (prayerbooks), on the cart outside the Sanctuary and in the… Continue reading

Antisemitism, Community Relations, Current Affairs, Esther, History, Holidays, Inclusion, Interfaith Dialogue, Islam, Israel, Justice, Leadership, MLK Day, Peace, Pekudei, Purim, Rabbi, Temple Beth Abraham, Terrorism, Tikkun Olam, Tzedek, USA
January 21, 2018

Letter to the Telegraph on Pat Buchanan and Immigration

My letter in today's Nashua Telegraph, in response to the most recent column on immigration by Pat Buchanan. To the Editors: Is Pat Buchanan the best the Telegraph can do for analysis that contributes to our thinking about immigration? Buchanan’s fixed point, in column after column that you publish, is the idea that there is… Continue reading

Antisemitism, Community Relations, Current Affairs, Freedom, Immigration, Inclusion, Interfaith Dialogue, Islam, Justice, Leadership, Peace, Theology, Tikkun Olam, Tzedek, USA
December 7, 2017

Jerusalem and the U.S. Embassy

Here are some thoughts in response to President Trump’s announcement yesterday about recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and initiating the transfer of the U.S. embassy there from Tel Aviv. I’m thinking about this spiritually and emotionally as a Jew, as well as politically as an American and as a person tied to Israel. All day… Continue reading

Antisemitism, Chanuka, Community Relations, Current Affairs, Interfaith Dialogue, Islam, Israel, Jerusalem, Leadership, Peace, Tikkun Olam, Tzedek, USA
January 15, 2017

MLK Day 2017 — Dr King Teaches Us What Religion Ought to Be

While we all know 'I Have a Dream,' it is MLK's 1963 letter in response to clergy from jail in Birmingham that speaks most powerfully and timelessly about the meaning of religion. He wrote about churches, but I know the same words apply to synagogues as well. "On sweltering summer days and crisp autumn mornings… Continue reading

Community Relations, Current Affairs, Ethics, Freedom, Holocaust, Inclusion, Interfaith Dialogue, Islam, Justice, Leadership, MLK Day, Peace, Spirituality, Theology, Tikkun Olam, Tzedek, USA
December 1, 2016

Torah Reflection on Truth and Peace as of Right after Thanksgiving

I just wanted to get on record some reflections on what it's like as a rabbi and leader right now, a snapshot in time. I have spoken previously about the prophetic verse Ha-emet v'ha-shalom ehavu – "Love truth and peace." In the Talmud, the verse is quoted in the course of an exploration of a debate between… Continue reading

Community Relations, Current Affairs, Election, Ethics, Freedom, Inclusion, Islam, Leadership, Parashat Hashavua, Rabbi, Thanksgiving, Tikkun Olam, Toldot, Tzedek, USA