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Rabbi's Sermons

Bari Weiss on Antisemitism

Bari Weiss on Antisemitism
Parshat Vayishlah, 5780
Saturday, December 14, 2019

פרשת וישלח, תש״פ Parshat Vayishlah, 5780 by Rabbi Sydni Saturday, December 14th, 2019 Bari Weiss on Antisemitism

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

Hospitality and Food on Thanksgiving
Parshat Toldot, 5780
Saturday, November 30, 2019

פרשת תולדות, תש״פ Parshat Toldot, 5780 by Rabbi Sydni Saturday, November 30th, 2019 Hospitality and Food on Thanksgiving

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!

Geaux Vote!
Parshat Vayeira, 5780
Saturday, November 16, 2019

פרשת וירא, תש״פ Parshat Vayeira, 5780 by Rabbi Sydni Saturday, November 16th, 2019 Geaux Vote!

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

Together We Can Prevent Cancer
Parshat Lekh-L'kha, 5780
Saturday, November 9, 2019

פרשת לך-לך, תש״פ Parshat Lekh-L'kha, 5780 by Rabbi Sydni Saturday, November 9th, 2019 Together We Can Prevent Cancer

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

Noah and the Wildfires
Parshat Noah, 5780
Saturday, November 2, 2019

פרשת נח, תש״פ Parshat Noah, 5780 by Rabbi Sydni Saturday, November 2nd, 2019 Noah and the Wildfires

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 

Our Sacred Bodies

Parshat B'reishit, 5780
Saturday, October 26, 2019

פרשת בראשית, תש״פ Parshat B'reishit, 5780 by Rabbi Sydni Saturday, October 26th, 2019 Our Sacred Bodies

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

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

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, April 19 2025 21 Nisan 5785