Sermons

Rosh Hashanah Eve: “To be a Jewish is to be a Dreamer” 5770 (2009)

How to Really Support Israel — Yom Kippur 5771/2010

A Rabbi and his wife were cleaning up the house. The Rabbi came across a box he didn't recognize. His wife told him to leave it alone, it was personal. One day she was out and his curiosity got the best of him. He opened the box, and inside he found three eggs and $2,000. When his wife came home, he admitted that he opened the box, and he asked her to explain the contents to him. She told him that every time he had a bad sermon, she would put an egg in the box. He interrupted, "In 20 years, only Read more [...]

How to be a Mitzvah Mensch – Yom Kippur 5771/2010

Two friends meet after they haven’t seen each other in twenty five years. Harry starts talking about himself and doesn’t stop for a half hour. His friend David says "Harry, we haven’t spoken in 25 years, you go on and on about yourself...aren’t you going to ask about me? Harry considers and says "Your right! How are you?” David answers "Oy, Don’t ask!" Of course, when things are difficult, we do need to ask, we do need to support each other, and we need to respond with gemilut hassadim, Read more [...]

How to be a Lamed-Vavnik in a Troubled World – Erev Rosh Hashanah 5771/2010

Have you heard the Yiddish word, kaynahoreh? (Keep away the evil eye). My great-grandmother used to say that all the time that she mentioned something good. Which reminds me of a story: Mr. Finkelstein is called as a witness in a trial. "How old are you?" asks the D.A. "I am, kaynahoreh, ninety one." "Excuse me? What did you say?" "I said, I am, kaynahoreh, ninety-one years old." "Sir, the clerk can't type unusual words, please just answer the question with no embellishments," says the D.A. "I ask Read more [...]

Highlights of 5769 (2008-2009)

September: It was great having the Days of Awe in our own building, “in the round,” as our own members and band joined me in leading services. and October: Thanks to a grant from the Jewish Federation of the Greater Sacramento Region and to the work of CBI volunteers, many families built their own sukkot. November & onward , new this year: Two adult B’nai Torah! Plus our newsletter, website, and congregational emails all get stylish updates. Meditation at many Shabbat morning Read more [...]