Writing the Waves

Our ancient Sages asked, “Eizeh hu hacham?” Who is wise? And they answered,
“Halomed mikol adam.” The one who learns from others. In a tumultuous world in which
too often, sound bytes set the course of a day or a conversation or even a relationship,
it is crucial that we are able to sit for a meaningful period of time and hear wise words
that last longer than 30 seconds.

Coming up tomorrow night at our Israel...Read more...

The great irony of CSK is that our success demands that we speak about money more than less.  We haven’t always done it, but that doesn’t make it less important.  We insist on making Jewish life accessible to all and thus we remain committed that our High Holy Days are OPEN TO ALL.  Everyone is invited. As we say, “Join us…You Already Belong.” 

And there is a difference between Open...Read more...

During a conversation about the High Holy Days with some distant cousins this summer, that turned to the subject of tickets and seating, their very close up, long time reserved seats for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur at their historic synagogue, my cousins' very young daughter innocently offered, “We’re temple nepo babies.”  First, I needed to confirm what she meant.  By “nepo babies,” she was...Read more...

In the final verses of last week’s Torah portion, Balak, the Torah retells the story of Pinchas, a biblical figure who takes up arms and acts as a vigilante on behalf of Moses and God. Some of the Israelite men had been, according to the text, "whoring” with Moabite women, in a cultic worship of the Canaanite god, Baal-peor.  God instructs Moses to instruct the tribal chiefs to gather those men and slay them as...Read more...

A few weeks ago, I had the distinct opportunity to join 300 rabbinic and cantorial colleagues for “Recharging Reform Judaism,” at the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue (SWFS) in NYC.  In an effort to challenge, or inspire, or awaken (take your pick) the largest synagogue organization anywhere in the world outside of Israel, this conference set its sights on re-rooting Reform Judaism in Jewish text, tradition, and a greater sense...Read more...

My son just graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelors degree in Political Science.  We were at The Big House (football stadium) for the giant commencement ceremonies and we witnessed the anti-Israel demonstration performed by 100 or so keffiyeh-clad students. I was annoyed.  So, from the ceremonies, I posted the following message on Facebook:

“At...Read more...

Tonight we celebrate the Exodus from Egypt. For thousands of years, Jews have been celebrating this moment that sets the trajectory for the Jewish people. It’s hard to really tell the chicken from the egg in this case. Have we made the ritual of remembering slavery a bug or a feature of Jewish life? It’s certainly hard to know. 

Our history of miraculous survival is only miraculous because so many forces...Read more...

To listen to Rabbi Scott's blog, click HERE.

I never much understood Holocaust denialism.  It seemed to me that the very people who enacted the Holocaust, and the very people, who believe today and since then, that the decimation, for example, of 90% of Poland’s Jews (at the start of war, there were 3 Million Jewish Poles, and in 1945, there were less than 300,000, and today there are barely 30,000)...Read more...

What is the alternative?  That is what I keep asking myself and others.  And nobody screaming “ceasefire,” has a quality answer.  Finally, the US is calling upon the UN Security Council for a ceasefire that requires the return of all hostages.  Why is this so anathema?  Shouldn’t this be the obvious requirement?  

If Hamas wants Israel to halt its attacks launched in...Read more...