Had Adam and Eve the presence of mind to invoke their Miranda rights in the Garden of Eden, the history of biblical religion, if not all of Western Civilization, might have turned out very differently.
September 25, 2013
Parting's Sweet Sorrow
Occasion(s) / Shemini Atzeret
More so than any other Jewish holiday, the meaning of today’s festival of Shemini Atzeret is as enigmatic as it is elusive. “For seven days,” commands Leviticus, you shall bring an offering unto God.
September 16, 2013
The Fate that Awaits Us All
Occasion(s) / Yom Kippur
Of all the dark and despairing hours of the Yom Kippur War, rock bottom arrived on day three – Tuesday, October 8, 1973.
September 04, 2013
Return
Occasion(s) / Rosh Hashanah
Franz Rosenzweig’s decision to attend Rosh Hashanah services exactly one hundred years ago today, oddly, came down to a procedural matter.
September 03, 2013
Favorable Judgment
Occasion(s) / Rosh Hashanah
Goldstein, after much delay and against his better judgment, finally gave in and agreed to go on a camping trip with his dear friend Cohen. At the end of the first day, exhausted, they set up camp, ready for a night under the stars.
June 07, 2013
One way, Off-peak from Secaucus
Occasion(s) / Korah
On Wednesday of this week, Cantor Schwartz and I were honored to officiate at the funeral service for Senator Frank Lautenberg, of blessed memory.
May 31, 2013
The Life We Have Chosen
Occasion(s) / Sh’lah L’kha
Not too long ago, I found myself at the front of a funeral procession, sitting in the passenger seat at the side of the hearse driver, on my way to officiate graveside for a long-time congregant.
May 17, 2013
Bitul Ha-yesh
Occasion(s) / Naso
Every medical student, I am told, is assigned at some point to read an article referred to as “The Hateful Patient.”
May 10, 2013
Torah's Intent
Occasion(s) / B’midbar
You may be familiar with one of Van Gogh’s most famous paintings, “The Bedroom.” I remember as a college student putting it up on my dorm room wall with adhesive poster putty, a momentary expression of my individuality – until I discovered that pretty much everyone else on my hall had done the sa
May 03, 2013
Arevut
Occasion(s) / B’hukkotai
The sweetest and perhaps most famous legend told about Jerusalem is the tale of how King Solomon chose the spot to build the Temple.