Rabbi's Blog

Chanukah Wishes From Rabbi Robbie

12/02/2018 07:42:42 AM

Dec2

Shalom Beth Am Family,

Tonight, as the sun sets, we will gather around our menorahs and light our first candles. We will bask in their warmth and gloRead more...

Where to go from here?

10/30/2018 02:33:39 PM

Oct30

“To act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Adonai.” – Micah 6:8

These words keep ringing in my ears as I reflect on the anti-Semitic atroRead more...

Responding to Pittsburgh

10/29/2018 11:02:33 AM

Oct29

Shalom.

I write note this in the wake of the brutality and anti-Semitism that was unleashed on the synagogue in Pittsburgh yesterday morning. While tRead more...

Rabbi Robbie's Message

09/28/2018 01:08:51 PM

Sep28

“To everything there is a season, a time for every experience under heaven…”

While most of us are familiar because the Byrds made it popular, iRead more...

Thoughts Before Yom Kippur

09/17/2018 03:25:18 PM

Sep17

To My Temple Beth Am Family,

Tomorrow evening, our community, like other Jewish communities around the world, will begin the observance of Yom KippurRead more...

Shanah Tovah From Your Beth Am Family

09/07/2018 06:09:13 AM

Sep7

To My Temple Beth Am Family,

As Rosh Hashanah approaches, many memories come swirling in my mind: the sweetness of the apples, the glow of the honey,Read more...

A Response To Those In Need

06/20/2018 11:43:04 AM

Jun20

“Love thy neighbor as thyself” – Lev. 19
“When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not wrong him.” – Lev. 20
“[God] upRead more...

To My Beth Am Family, With the beginning of Passover on the horizon, I am reminded of an important teaching from the Seder. In the Torah, the Hebrew word for Egypt is the word mitzrayyim. Literally, this word means narrow places. This teaches us tRead more...

My Rabbi's Message

02/15/2018 12:08:58 PM

Feb15

Dear Beth Am Family, Yesterday afternoon, sadlyagain, I held my kids close to me when they came home from school. I did this, if only to convince myself that everything was and will be okay. Yet, I am quite aware that there is evil and hatred inRead more...

A Message On MLK Day

01/15/2018 09:58:52 AM

Jan15

Shalom Beth Am Family, For me, as a Jewish-American, I find a great amount of power and inspiration from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. This extraordinary day bridges my Jewish values and my American values, synthesizing them into one powerful andRead more...

Get Out For Chanukah!!!!

12/14/2017 08:16:05 AM

Dec14

Shalom Beth Am Family, While driving in the car recently, Joshua spontaneously blurted out from the back seat, Do you know what I love most about Chanukah? What? Ellen and I asked, expecting to hear the traditional exclamation, presents. Ins Shalom Beth Am Family, While driving in the car recently, Joshua spontaneously blurted out from the back seat, “Do you know what I love most about ChRead more...

Display With Pride

12/12/2017 07:43:52 AM

Dec12

Shalom Beth Am Family, There is a wonderful tradition that Jews are not only commanded to light the Chanukah menorah, but they are supposed to display it in the window for the world to see. It is not enough to feel the glow and warmth of these holid Shalom Beth Am Family,There is a wonderful tradition that Jews are not only commanded to light the Chanukah menorah, but they are supposed to diRead more...

Celebrate Our Newest Lights

11/29/2017 07:15:56 AM

Nov29

Dear Temple Beth Am Family, I don't know about you, but I have been struck by how early it is when it starts to get dark. Dinners that used to include sunsets are now met by darkness. Meetings that used to feature fall colors, now display the coolne Dear Temple Beth Am Family,I don't know about you, but I have been struck by how early it is when it starts to get dark. Dinners that used to inRead more...

A Response to Texas - A Day of Mitzvah

11/06/2017 10:31:38 AM

Nov6

Mitzvah goreret mitzvah, aveirah goreret aveirah One good deed leads to another, while one bad deed leads to another -Pirkei Avot Dear Friends, Again, we wake up to a morning news cycle flooded with information about a horrific act of violence. Mitzvah goreret mitzvah, aveirah goreret aveirahOne good deed leads to another, while one bad deed leads to another- Pirkei Avot Dear Friends, AgaRead more...

Yom Kippur Morning: You Shall Not Hate

10/03/2017 11:13:56 AM

Oct3

I like short, quick answers, don’t you? It’s pretty obvious that our attention spans are pretty short. So, if you are wondering, “Why we are here this morning,” and, “What is the point of this holiest of days in the Jewish calendar,” let me offer you this short, quick answer: sins. Yep, I said it - sins, wrongdoings, places where we messed up, no no’s. In one way or another, that is what Yom Kippur is about....Read more...

Kol Nidrei Sermon: With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

10/03/2017 11:08:12 AM

Oct3

Frequently, people ask me about how I come up with my ideas for my sermons. Now, if I was an ultra-Orthodox rabbi, the answer would be quite simple. I would look to the classic Jewish sources: the Torah, the Talmud and other rabbinic texts written thousands of years ago. But as a Reform Rabbi, things are a little different. I not only can choose from the...Read more...

Response to Las Vegas

10/02/2017 07:00:54 AM

Oct2

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Rosh Hashanah Morning: Lessons From Our Past

09/27/2017 10:52:20 AM

Sep27

The Jewish New Year is always a great opportunity for us to reflect on our lives. And when I look at the past couple of years and compare them to the prior decades, I would say that I am overjoyed. I am ecstatic about the now. Of course, we have political strife as well as the obvious natural disasters, but I really am happy about the era in which we live in. And the basic reason for my feelings is because of the simple...Read more...

Erev Rosh Hashanah: No Pain, No Gain

09/27/2017 10:06:07 AM

Sep27

In the spirit of the holiday season, I want to be honest with everyone here. I am a wimp. Yep, it’s true. Now, I’m not a wimp in all areas. Specifically, I’m referring to when I go biking. Simply put, there are two types of riders. There are those that ride to raise their blood pressure, get in some exercise, and enjoy their surroundings. And then there are those that ride, looking for that amazing...Read more...

Shanah Tovah From Temple Beth Am

09/26/2017 11:27:05 AM

Sep26

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Our Rabbi's Response To The Hurricane

08/29/2017 11:53:07 AM

Aug29

You shall not stand idly by while your neighbor bleeds Lev. 1916 These words keep ringing in my ear, as I watch the images coming from Texas. I am sure that I am not alone in thinking that my neighbors are in need. Though they may live many miRead more...