Dr. Zuhdi Jasser to speak at Temple Beth Sholom on Sunday Oct. 18, 2009.

I can still remember that day, I believe that most of us can remember exactly what we were doing or where we were when we heard the news.  For our generation, 9/11 had a very similar effect to that of President Kennedy’s assassination on the generation of  our parents and grandparents. 

Losing one’s innocence, understanding that the world can be a cruel desolate place devoid of morals or ethics is a horrible reality to wake up to.  Yet I am amazed!  As much as we say we remember what happened on Sept. 11, 2001, as much as we go through the motions of trying to understand and as much as we sometimes still break into tears, I believe most of us have truly forgotten why this happened.  (more…)

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The Shooting at The Gay and Lesbian Center in Tel Aviv… much more than just bullets!

Before I begin to write the words that I really want to write, I want to take a trip down memory lane. Let me warn you though, these are not pleasant memories. I remember it as if it happened yesterday.

I was a rabbinical student at The Jewish Theological Seminary. Shabbat Nov. 4, 1995 seemed to be just like any other Shabbat; it turned out to be a day that changed the fabric and soul of the Jewish People forever. (more…)

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Every year as we ready ourselves to begin reading Sefer B’midbar (The Book of Numbers) from The Torah, my heart rejoices! Why? Well, first of all it really signals the arrival of summer. When I first moved to Las Vegas 11 years ago, I really didn’t look forward to the summer months. Now, I love them! Our physical surroundings, the beautiful mountains that encircle our valley and the almost uninterrupted abundance of bright and powerful light remind me of what it must have been like for our ancestors in The Wilderness. (more…)

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On Saturday Oct. 4, 2008, we had the privilege of hosting Ambassador Dennis Ross at Temple Beth Sholom for Havdalah followed by a very interesting lecture.

Ambassador Ross came to speak as a surrogate of the Obama Campaign. Just like we did for Senator Lieberman when he came on behalf of the McCain campaign, we listened carefully and were delighted to have such a prominent figure in American public life share with us insights on the current election.

Ambassador Ross gave a fascinating presentation on Senator Obama’s foreign policy perspective.  I just came upon an article published by Haaretz this morning that very much summarizes what Ambassador Ross said at TBS.

I have chosen to post the entire article; it is both interesting and may also be enlightening as to what the future may hold in store if Obama is elected president.

Again, this doesn’t constitute my personal endorsement of any candidate nor does it represent the Temple’s point of view or mean that Temple Beth Sholom endorses or supports any specific candidate.

(more…)

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What an amazing feeling it is to be ready to immerse ourselves in the beauty of Sukkot!  Since I was a child, Sukkot has always been my favorite Holy day and even today it provides me with my very own hide away “spot” within The Jewish Calendar. 

After the overwhelming and awesome number of people that come to The Synagogue for The Yamim HaNoraim, after many of us have had our “deep immersion” in Judaism for the entire year, Sukkot is very often one of the least attended Holy Days. Sukkot is the time of the year when we really experience an outmost sense of Joy! (more…)

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Parashat Ki Tetze can be quite overwhelming to study! Why? Well, it contains an incredible amount of Mitzvot. A simple reading of this Sidra will leave you puzzled at first. How do you connect some of the different commandments that it contains? Is there a logic in the way in which all of these different Mitzvot are laid out through out this week’s Torah Portion? Hardly!

Instead of trying to put the puzzle of Ki Tetze together, I would much rather bring your attention to Judaism as a whole. One of the most important and absolute truths (I don’t use this term often or lightly) about Judaism is that it is not merely a religion. Judaism is a way of life, and that is what makes us so different from all other different religions in the world. (more…)

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Most of us know the story from The Tanach where Elijah strives to “understand” God’s presence and effect in the world. Elijah looks carefully at what happens around him to see where God is and what God is trying to say to him. Elijah looks at a fire consuming a bush but can’t find God in the fire. He listens to a great noise but can’t find God in the noise, and he feels a powerful wind but he can’t find God in the wind.

He finally finds God speaking to him in a “still small voice!” — just like the author of Unetaneh Tokef (one of the most powerful and beautiful prayers in our High Holy Day liturgy) wants us to visualize God’s power. Not in the midst of a great show of force, rather in the silence and the stillness of a small voice! Kol D’mama Daka! (more…)

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When we first decided to come to Costa Rica on vacation, we did so for a number of reasons. We were told that we would be able to see the most amazing wildlife and breath-taking sights. We arrived here last week and everything has been exactly like we expected it to be. The monkeys swing out in full force every morning, and we can see them from our window, then we run into them again when we go to the beach later in the day. We have seen butterflies that seem to have been colored by the hand of God, the colors are not only vibrant but they are unlike any colors we have ever seen before! We were prepared for all of these, and we haven’t been disappointed.

(more…)

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This coming Sunday, July 6, 2008, The Summerlin Community Baptist Church is holding a “God Bless Israel Night.” It will be held at their church (find a map below) on 2100 Snow Trail (behind The Trails Shopping Center) at 6 PM. What exactly is it and why are they doing it? (more…)

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Aryeh Green is the director of Media Central, a Jerusalem center providing support services for journalists based in or visiting Israel and the region. Mr. Green has an extensive background in strategic communications in both the public and private sectors. He has been a senior advisor to Natan Sharansky, former Member of Knesset and Deputy Prime Minister, working to combat anti-Semitism and to promote democracy — as well as a high-tech executive and business consultant.

An Israeli for almost the past quarter-century, Mr. Green has been published in Haaretz, The Jerusalem Post, Israel21C, Washington Jewish Week, SF Northern California Jewish Bulletin, in Israel Insider, and most recently contributed a chapter in the book, “Academics Against Israel and the Jews” on the European university environment (Jerusalem, JCPA, 2007).

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