Temple Beth Abraham – Page 2 – Rabbi Jon 's Website and Blog

October 23, 2016

Proud to Be Jewish and Making a Difference in the World This Weekend

A quick check in before the last Tishrei holy days: I am incredibly proud of our congregation, Temple Beth Abraham in Nashua. Yesterday we hosted Imam Muhammad Musri from Orlando, who was visiting the nearby mosque in Lowell, for a talk on the basics of Islam. At least sixty congregants attended. People asked questions about… Continue reading

Community Relations, Current Affairs, Election, Holidays, Interfaith Dialogue, Islam, Israel, Leadership, Peace, Sukkot, Temple Beth Abraham, Terrorism, Tikkun Olam, Tzedek, USA

October 14, 2016

Yom Kippur Sermon and Sukkot

I've posted my Yom Kippur sermon, a reflection related to the election year and my previous post. Also I have some material on the site here related to Sukkot, the festival that begins Sunday night. Chag Sameach! Continue reading

July 6, 2016

Checking In

There is a lot happening in the world these days and I haven't posted for a while…. I think some of you may be here after hearing me on the West Wing Weekly podcast, and if so, welcome! If you're Jewish, you'll find that I had a couple more things to say about the episode in… Continue reading

Current Affairs, Election, Holocaust, Inclusion, Interfaith Dialogue, Islam, Television, Temple Beth Abraham, Tikkun Olam, Tzedek

February 4, 2016

Reflections: Hillary Clinton Responds To My Question

On February 3, I had the honor of participating in a nationally-televised town hall with Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. I was selected to ask Secretary Clinton a question. Here is the exchange, in video and in transcript: RABBI JONATHAN SPIRA-SAVETT: Rabbi Simcha Bunim taught that every person has to… Continue reading

Current Affairs, Election, Jewish Education, Leadership, Spirituality, Teens, Temple Beth Abraham, Tikkun Olam, USA, Youth

October 24, 2014

Ari Shavit’s My Promised Land

This post is based on my bulletin column of April 2014. At Temple Beth Abraham, the Sisterhood's book club is discussing this book on Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 8:00 PM. The most important new book about Israel this year is called My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel, by Israeli journalist Ari Shavit.… Continue reading

Current Affairs, Gaza, Israel, Jerusalem, Peace, Temple Beth Abraham, Yom Haatzmaut

August 30, 2013

What We Bring to High Holy Day Services

For most of my life, I spent Rosh Hashanah in small congregations. Sometimes about thirty people, other times maybe one hundred. These past few years at Beth Abraham, I am inspired when I look out and see several hundred people, together in the middle of the week. In a world that pushes us so often… Continue reading

High Holidays, Holidays, Prayer, Rabbi, Rosh Hashanah, Spirituality, Temple Beth Abraham, Yamim Noraim, Yom Kippur

May 14, 2013

Erev Shavuot 5773

Dear Friends: According to the Torah, when God brought the Israelites to Mount Sinai, they heard God's voice directly, as a group, for the one and only time in history. And God said…. "Do not steal." But surely people already knew that! "Do not murder." Did the people really need God's voice to get them… Continue reading

Holidays, Midrash, Revelation, Shavuot, Study, Temple Beth Abraham, Tikkun Olam, Torah

October 3, 2010

Engaging With the Election — Take 1

Kudos to the Southern New Hampshire Jewish Mens' Club for this morning's forum with candidates for New Hampshire's open Senate seat, 2nd District Congressional seat, and governorship. Great turnout, great questions, nicely run all around. It's a tribute to the Jewish community to be able to host such an event. It was good to see… Continue reading

Current Affairs, Election, Environment, Temple Beth Abraham, Tikkun Olam, USA

September 7, 2010

Shana Tova!

Visit my High Holidays page for some good resources, including my Guide to High Holiday Prayers, in either .doc or .pdf format. It includes my overall perspective on Jewish prayer, a glossary of Hebrew words related to the High Holidays, a description of some of the "choreography" of services (bowing, stepping, etc.), and an overview… Continue reading

High Holidays, Holidays, Prayer, Rosh Hashanah, Spirituality, Study, Temple Beth Abraham, Yom Kippur

March 23, 2010

Adult Education Survey

If you're a local reader interested in more Jewish education, take a minute to complete this on-line survey for Temple Beth Abraham. Continue reading

Jewish Education, Temple Beth Abraham

October 13, 2009

Synaplex and Crop Walk

Two items for the local readers: First, this Shabbat is the kickoff of the new version of Temple Beth Abraham's Synaplex. Read all the details here. Our goal is to make sure that there is some way for everybody to experience the joy of Shabbat, for yourself and in community. I've described that vision in… Continue reading

Books, Community Relations, Justice, Prayer, Spirituality, Synaplex, Temple Beth Abraham, Tikkun Olam, Tzedakah, Tzedek

June 26, 2009

Parashat Korach — Docent, Cheerleader, Coach…Rabbi

Parashat Korach opens with a challenge to Moshe and Aharon, led by a Levite named Korach. "You have gone too far! For all the community are holy, all of them, and the Lord is in their midst. Why then do you raise yourselves above the congregation of Adonai?" On the face of it, the argument… Continue reading

Korach, Parashat Hashavua, Rabbi, Teacher-Student Relationship, Temple Beth Abraham, Torah