Dear B’nai Shalom members, families, and friends: As you will be reading this month's bulletin, we will be preparing to enter the Hebrew month of Elul.  Many people may recognize the name "Elul" as the month that precedes Rosh Hashanah and all the "high holidays". ...

Dear B’nai Shalom members, families, and friends: While summertime is a time of great joy, pleasure, and relaxation for many people (as noted in my article in LAST MONTH’S BULLETIN), there is a portion of the summer that does not match the joyfulness that often...

Dear B'nai Shalom members, friends, and families: With summer upon us, many families begin to view the calendar through the eyes of teachers and students. That is to say, family members who-despite the fact they are obligated by the requirements of their employment to...

Dear B’nai Shalom members, families, and friends: It is likely that many of you have heard the following question posed without the questioner receiving a satisfactory answer:  “Is Judaism a religion, a people, a nation, or just what?” The question is a good one and...

Even as you are reading this synagogue bulletin, we will be in the midst of “Counting the Omer”, counting the days and weeks between the festive holidays of Passover and Shavuot. The concept of “Counting the Omer” is really a misnomer but it is one that has...

I have long believed that HaShem (Almighty G-d) has a sense of humor that He reveals to us every once in a while. Included in this overt display of Hashem’s personal amusement is His creating the holiday of Purim for us in which our kitchen tables, counters, shelves,...

At a time when the world is so filled with hatred, betrayal, violence, and blind impulsivity, we turn to HaKadosh Baruch Hu, (Almighty G-d) for help, solutions, and an end to the increasingly maddening chaos. We take stock of ourselves, reviewing those deeds worthy of...

I have the pleasure of sharing with you my remarks in this bulletin, being written in Eretz Yisrael, as I have had the privilege of walking the holy soil of our consecrated Homeland, and as I continue to breathe in the sacred air of our eternal dwelling place. I never...

I hope everyone is doing well during these days-the mid-winter time of little sunshine; wind-chill factors, often gray, dreary mornings; and warming up the car before driving off... It is worthwhile to know where and how to navigate our siddur (prayer book) if one...

With the holiday of Thanksgiving behind us, it is well worth sharing some thoughts concerning the holiday as viewed through the eyes of an American Jew living here in the United States. I hope it gives you reason to ponder the holiday against a backdrop of the...