A Time for Keeping Shabbat
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A Time for Keeping Shabbat
Parshat Vayak'heil-P'kudei, 5780
Saturday, March 21, 2020
A midrash teaches that each day of the week was created with a partner. Sunday had Monday, Tuesday had Wednesday, and Thursday had Friday, but then, Shabbat was all alone. As Shabbat was crying in...Read more...
Census 2020: A Simple Mitzvah
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Census 2020: A Simple Mitzvah
Parshat Ki Tisa, 5780
Saturday, March 14, 2020
Just yesterday, Rabbi Feivel and I took a break from working from home to fill out our 2020 census. How many people live in our home? What kind of home do we live in? What are our genders? What is our relationship to each...Read more...
Pikuah Nefesh in the Time of Coronavirus
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Pikuah Nefesh in the Time of Coronavirus
Parshat T'tzaveh, 5780
Saturday, March 7, 2020
Note: A week and a half after this sermon was given, all Agudath Achim services and events moved to an online platform, in order to support “safer at home” protocols.
When I was...Read more...
Agudath Achim as God's Ideal Home—Part 2
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Agudath Achim as God's Ideal Home—Part 2
Parshat T'rumah, 5780
Saturday, February 29, 2020
You don’t have to pay to pray. But, if you want heat in the building on Hanukkah and air-conditioning on Yom Kippur, there is a cost. If you want a prayer book, there is a cost. If you...Read more...
Vote Mercaz for the World Zionist Congress!
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Vote Mercaz for the World Zionist Congress!
Parshat T'rumah, 5780
Saturday, February 29, 2020
After I graduated college, I lived in Israel for a two year period that was instrumental to the development of the halakhic egalitarian movement in Jerusalem. Through these two years, I...Read more...
Weeding Out Fake News
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Weeding Out Fake News
Parshat Mishpatim, 5780
Saturday, February 22, 2020
No matter which section of the political spectrum we inhabit, in today’s media-driven world, we all fear the call of FAKE NEWS! When we are scrolling online, it is too easy for our eyes to attach to a radically disturbing...Read more...
Make For Yourself a Teacher
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Make For Yourself a Teacher
Parshat Yitro, 5780
Saturday, February 15, 2020
Months before I knew this congregation existed, you learned in Pirkei Avot that Yehoshua ben Pirhiya once said: Make for yourself a teacher. Acquire for yourself a friend. And when you judge others, tip the balance in their...Read more...
Actions Shape Character
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Actions Shape Character
Parshat Bo, 5780
Saturday, February 1, 2020
In our Pirkei Avot class, a class largely focused on moral living, one particular community member likes to remind us, “It’s not what you say. It’s what you do.” While I do think that what you say is always...Read more...
Remembering Rabbi Mantinband
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Remembering Rabbi Mantinband
Parshat Va'eira, 5780
Saturday, January 25, 2020
Last week, as I was doing research on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel in preparation for Martin Luther King weekend, I started thinking about another civil rights rabbi with much closer...Read more...
What's In A Name?
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What's In A Name?
Parshat Sh'mot, 5780
Saturday, January 18, 2020
Dearbhla Kelly, one of my favorite yoga teachers in Los Angeles, has a simple method of gaining her students’ trust. Dearbhla makes sure that, by five minutes into class, she knows the name and at least one thing about each student...Read more...
On Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend, Freedom Through Bold Action
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On Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend, Freedom Through Bold Action
Parshat Sh'mot, 5780
Saturday, January 18, 2020
Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel: “Prayer is no substitute for action. It is, rather, like a beam thrown from a flashlight before us into the darkness. It is in this light that we who rope, stumble, and climb, discover where we stand, what surrounds us, and the course which we should choose.”
The...Read more...
Like Jacob, Start Planning Early
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Like Jacob, Start Planning Early
Parshat Vay'hi, 5780
Saturday, January 11, 2019
Rabbi Elliott Dorff - esteemed author, respected halakhist, and all-around mensch - teaches a number of philosophy classes at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies - Philosophy of Prayer, Conservative Judaism I and...Read more...
You Can Cry In Shul
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You Can Cry In Shul
Parshat Vayigash, 5780
Saturday, January 4, 2020
A disciple asked Rebbe Menahem Mendel of Kotsk about a verse of Torah. “The V’ahavta reads: Place these words, these mitzvot, upon your heart. Why does Torah tell us to ‘set them upon your heart, on top of your heart? Why does it...Read more...
Bari Weiss on Antisemitism
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Bari Weiss on Antisemitism
Parshat Vayishlah, 5780
Saturday, December 14, 2019
This was a week of high emotions for the American Jewish community. On Tuesday, three civilians and one police officer were killed in a shooting at Jersey City Kosher Supermarket. Along with providing thoughts and...Read more...
Hospitality and Food on Thanksgiving
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Hospitality and Food on Thanksgiving
Parshat Toldot, 5780
Saturday, November 30, 2019
Ah Judaism, the religious tradition of “They tried to kill us, we survived, let’s eat!” A friend of mine reflected on facebook while observing his fellow Kroger shoppers the day before Thanksgiving,...Read more...
Geaux Vote!
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Geaux Vote!
Parshat Vayeira, 5780
Saturday, November 16, 2019
At 5:53 tomorrow evening, Rabbi Feivel and I will commemorate the end of Shabbat as we walk over to University Elementary for our first experience as Louisiana voters! As I imagine casting my vote now, I hear God’s words ringing in my ears: “I have...Read more...
Together We Can Prevent Cancer
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Together We Can Prevent Cancer
Parshat Lekh-L'kha, 5780
Saturday, November 9, 2019
On Wednesday morning this week, Rabbi Feivel and I attended a seminar for clergy entitled “Together We Can Prevent Cancer.” We were bombarded right off the bat with a slew of terrifying statistics - Louisiana...Read more...
Noah and the Wildfires
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Noah and the Wildfires
Parshat Noah, 5780
Saturday, November 2, 2019
For the past week, I’ve been checking my phone every few minutes to see where the California wildfires are raging now. My little brother’s school district is closed, but my family hasn’t been evacuated yet. The seminary from which Rabbi...Read more...
Our Sacred Bodies
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Parshat B'reishit, 5780
Saturday, October 26, 2019
My all-time favorite blessing in the Jewish tradition can be found on page 63 of Siddur Sim Shalom. For those of you who are Hebrew readers, let’s read the Hebrew together first. Now, I’ll share my translation in the...Read more...
Modern, Every-Day Idolatry
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Parashat Behar-Behukotai
Saturday, May 8
German-Jewish theologian Franz Rosenzweig writes a commentary on modern polytheism in the late 19th, early 20th century:
Names change but polytheism continues. Culture, civilization, people, state, nation, race, art, science, economy and class - here you have what is...Read more...
Parshat Behar-2024
Rabbi David Laor
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Shabbat Shalom!
This week's Torah portion – Parashat Behar – raises one of the most difficult, interesting, and complicated topics in Judaism – slavery. Unfortunately, even today, slavery still exists in some countries – albeit not in the brutal form that was prevalent among ancient people, nor as it existed...Read more...
Sat, November 23 2024
22 Cheshvan 5785
Rabbi's Sermons
Bereshit - Genesis
- Parshat Bereshit: Oct. 26, 2019, October 1, 2021, October 2, 2021, October 25, 2024
- Parshat Noah: Nov. 2, 2019, October 8, 2021, Oct. 29, 2022, Nov. 1, 2024
- Parshat Lekh-L'kha: Nov. 9, 2019, Oct. 31, 2020, Oct. 31, 2020 - Part 2, Oct. 15, 2021, Nov. 8, 2024
- Parshat Vayeira: Nov. 16, 2019, Nov. 7, 2020, Nov. 7, 2020 - Part 2, Oct. 22, 2021, Oct. 23, 2021, Nov.15, 2024
- Parshat Hayei Sara: Nov. 14, 2020, Oct. 30, 2021
- Parshat Toldot: Nov. 30, 2019, Nov. 21, 2020, Nov. 6, 2021
- Parshat Vayeitzei: Nov. 28, 2020, Nov. 13, 2021
- Parshat Vayishlah: Dec. 14, 2019 , Dec. 5, 2020, November 20, 2021
- Parshat Vayeisheiv: Dec. 12, 2020, Nov. 27, 2021
- Parshat Miketz: Dec. 4, 2021
- Parshat Vayigash: Jan. 4, 2020, Dec. 26, 2020, Dec. 11, 2021
- Parshat Vay'hi: Jan. 11, 2020, Jan. 2, 2021
Shemot-Exodus
- Parshat Sh'mot: Jan. 18, 2020, Jan. 18, 2020 - Part 2, Jan. 9, 2021
- Parshat Va'eira: Jan. 25, 2021
- Parshat Bo: Feb. 1, 2020, Jan. 23, 2021
- Parshat B'shalah: Jan. 30, 2021, Jan. 15, 2022, Feb. 3, 2023, Feb.4, 2023
- Parshat Yitro: Feb. 15, 2020, Feb. 6, 2021, Feb. 6, 2021, Feb. 21, 2022, Feb. 22, 2022
- Parshat Mishpatim: Feb. 22, 2020, Feb. 18, 2023
- Parshat T'rumah: Feb. 29, 2020, Feb. 29, 2020 - Part 2, Feb. 20, 2021, Feb. 4, 2022, Feb. 5, 2022, Feb. 25, 2023
- Parshat T'tzaveh: March 7, 2020, Feb. 27, 2021, Feb. 12, 2022, Feb. 11, 2022
- Parshat Ki Tisa: March 14, 2020, March 6, 2021, February 19, 2022
- Parshot Vayak'heil-P'kudei: March 21, 2020, March 13, 2021, February 26, 2022, March 18, 2023
Vayikra-Leviticus
- Parshat Vayikra: March 20, 2021, March 11, 2022, March 24, 2023, March 25, 2023
- Parshat Tzav: April 4, 2020, March 27, 2021, March 19, 2022
- Parshat Sh'mini: April 18, 2020
- Parshot Tazria-Metzora: April 25, 2020, April 17, 2021, April 2, 2022, April 20, 2024
- Parshot Achrei Mot-Kedoshim: May 2, 2020, April 24, 2021, May 7, 2022, May 3, 2024, May 10, 2024
- Emor: May 9, 2020, May 1, 2021, May 13, 2022, May 14, 2022, May 6, 2023
- Parshot B'har-B'hukotai: May 8, 2019, May 16, 2020, May 7, 2021, May 21, 2022, May 28, 2022, May 24, 2024, May 31, 2024
Bamidbar-Numbers
- Parshat Bamidbar: May 15, 2021, May 20, 2023, June 7, 2024
- Parshat Nasso: June 6, 2020, June 6, 2020 - Part 2, May 22, 2021, June 10, 2022, June 2, 2023, June 14, 2024
- Parshat B'ha'alotcha: June 13, 2020, June 13, 2020 - Part 2, June 9, 2023, June 10, 2023, June 21, 2024
- Parshat Sh'lach: June 20, 2020, June 20, 2020 - Part 2, June 5, 2021, June 28, 2024
- Parshat Korah: June 27, 2020, July 18, 2020, July 24, 2023, July 5, 2024
- Parshot Chukat-Balak: June 26, 2021, July 12, 2024, July 19, 2024
- Parshat Pinchas: July 11, 2020, July 11, 2020 - Part 2, July 2, 2021, July 3, 2021, July 22, 2022, July 23, 2022, July 26, 2024
- Parshot Matot-Masei: July 18, 2020, July 18, 2020 - Part 2, July 10, 2021, July 30, 2022, August 2, 2024
D'varim-Deuteronomy
- Parshat D'varim: July 25, 2020, July 25, 2020 - Part 2, July 17, 2021, August 6, 2022, August 9, 2024
- Parshat Va'et'hanan: Aug. 1, 2020, July 24, 2021, August 12, 2022, August 13, 2022, Aug. 16, 2024
- Parshat Eikev: Aug. 8, 2020, July 31, 2021, August 19, 2022, August 20, 2022
- Parshat Re'eh: August 7, 2021, August 30, 2024
- Parshat Shoftim: September 7, 2019, Aug. 22, 2020, August 14, 2021, August 14, 2021 - Part 2, September 3, 2022, September 6, 2024
- Parshat Ki Teitzei: Aug. 29, 2020, August 20, 2021, September 13, 2024
- Parshat Ki Tavo: Sept. 5, 2020, Sept. 5, 2020 - Part 2, August 28, 2021, Sept. 17, 2022, Sept. 20, 2024
- Parshot Nitzavim-Vayeilech: Sept. 11, 2021, September 24, 2022, Sept. 27,2024
- Parshat Ha'Azinu: Sept. 26, 2020, October 4, 2024
- Parshat Haberakhah
Rosh HaShanah: Sept. 19, 2020, Sept. 19, 2020 - Part 2, Sept. 19, 2020 - Part 3, Sept. 20, 2020, Sept. 7, 2021, Sept. 8, 2021, Sept. 9, 2021, Sept. 26, 2022, Oct 2, 2024
Yom Kippur: Sept. 28, 2020, Sept. 16, 2021, October 5, 2022
Sukkot: Oct. 3, 2020 , Sept. 20, 2021, Oct. 16,2024, Oct. 18, 2024
Passover: April 3, 2021, April 23, 2022, April 7, 2023, April 12, 2023 April 27, 2024
Rosh Hodesh: April 22, 2023
Today's Calendar
: 10:00am |
: 1:30pm |
| Havdalah : 6:01pm |
Friday Night
| Candle Lighting : 4:51pm |
: 7:30pm |
Shabbat Day
: 10:00am |
: 1:30pm |
| Havdalah : 5:59pm |
Upcoming Programs & Events
Nov 28 Office Closed Thursday, Nov 28 |
Nov 29 Office Closed Friday, Nov 29 |
This week's Torah portion is Parshat Chayei Sara
| Shabbat, Nov 23 |
Candle Lighting
| Shabbat, Nov 23, 4:53pm |
Havdalah
| Motzei Shabbat, Nov 23, 6:01pm |
Shabbat Mevarchim
| Shabbat, Nov 30 |