Ever since I was a boy, the experience of Rosh Hashanah has had both physical and spiritual hallmarks. Everyone eats challah and apples dipped in honey, but every year I also always had my mom’s refined onion soup, and helped her make roast duck for the extended family (If I can dig it up,…
I’ve always loved to write. While some see it and foster it as an outlet for creativity and spirituality, I also see it in two other, very important ways. First, writing is a call to and an instrument of action. If you want to motivate others, to educate or enlighten others, or to express …
Several years ago, I was reading a very interesting book looking at archaeology and bible studies called ‘Return to Sodom and Gomorrah’ by Charles Pellegrino. (I later introduced Pellegrino’s work to a filmmaker friend and the result was a large part of a film executive produced by Jam…
Everywhere you look these days it seems that you see division, fractiousness, and conflict. War in Europe. Political brawls in the US. Tensions in places around the world that have been peaceful until recent years. Extremists of all kinds intimidating vulnerable communities. And we are all a…
I recently listened to a podcast in which author Colin Campbell was talking about his new book on grief, ‘Finding The Words’. It was a very moving conversation, as the author talked about the experience of losing both of his teenage children in a car accident. Campbell made a critically …
A couple of nights ago I was sitting, as is customary for many, on the floor at my synagogue, as we listened to the reading of Eicha, the book of Lamentations. It was the eve of Tisha B’Av, the fast day yesterday when we commemorated the destruction of our temples and the loss of our sover…
When I was a teenager back in the 1980’s, there was a man who began attending my synagogue with his young family. He was Israeli and he was doing a Doctorate at one of the great universities in Toronto (which I later attended). He was taking a break from professional army service as a seni…
This week, one of Rockland’s best known and much loved Jewish camps, Ramah Day Camp - Nyack, held its Zimriyah, its camp camp wide celebration of song. At this time of the summer, some camps across Jewish denominations are looking to build something very special among their campers.
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As we turn the page on a new fiscal and campaign year at the Federation, we look back on accomplishments and challenges met. It’s been several years since the Jewish Federation of Rockland published an annual report, so we are proud to share our Annual Report covering 2022-2023 with you th…
In the Declaration of Independence, the signatories of that document concluded that they “appeal(ed) to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions.”
There was no statement of fealty to Christian identity or values, though all of them were born into that faith. Why…
47 years ago today, The CN Tower, up until 2007 the tallest freestanding structure in the world, opened its doors in my hometown of Toronto. About 1,800 feet tall, it was and is a truly imposing structure, and a testament to the capabilities of our civilization to reach for the sky.
About 2…
Last year at this time, I wrote about my commitment to learn more about the experience of African Americans, and to develop a better understanding of the history of our friends and neighbors. One of the things I researched was the evolution of Juneteenth celebrations, first in Texas, then in…
I’ve been privileged to hear from great speakers on Israel and Jewish issues for many years. Listening to Avital Sharansky speak in 1984 about her husband Natan (then Anatoly) imprisoned in the Soviet Gulag got me started on a lifetime of activism and advocacy in the Jewish world. I’ve l…
Hillel said, "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor, that is the entire Torah, the rest is just commentary, now go and study." Shabbat 31a
The passage above is familiar to many Jews, and it is a self-explanatory interpretation of the famous passage - Love your neighbor as yours…
I can remember it very well. It was a beautiful sunny afternoon in May 1991, as I left work in Toronto - I was teaching 7th grade English at the time at a yeshiva - it was a Friday, and I was headed home. I turned right out of the parking lot, then left, and that's when I heard it.
A repo…
