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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This evening we will begin the observance of The Holy Day of Shavuot. As we do every year, we will prepare ourselves to spiritually re-enact the moment in which God gave us The Torah.  It is ironic that  is one of the least widely observed Jewish Holy Days in our calendar because it is of tremendous importance. Of the three festivals of pilgrimage mentioned in The Torah (Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot), Shavuot is the only one that is apparently simple in observance.  There are no days of Hol Hamoed, there is no Lulav and Etrog, no Matzah! Shavuot, however, is the most spiritually and theologically charged of all the festivals. What does it really mean to receive The Torah, why do we have to consider ourselves as if every single one of us was standing at Sinai? (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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This coming May will mark 13 years since my ordination as a Rabbi at The Jewish Theological Seminary. I keep thinking it is like becoming a Bar Mitzvah all over again, and I find myself constantly repeating a mantra that I share with Bar and Bat Mitzvah youngsters almost every Shabbat: “This is the beginning… not the end!”

It is an ironic comparison because just like a Bar or Bat Mitzvah feels he/she has worked so hard in preparing to be able to chant The Haftarah or to read from The Torah, I also feel that these first 13 years since I became a Rabbi have been nothing more than intense preparation for what is yet to come.

Today I find myself reflecting on this because I just officiated over a very special wedding in Providence, RI. (more…)

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I have always believed that The Torah is a reflection of reality.  From the beginning of our history as a People and at the time when Rabbis started trying to better understand and decipher its words, there have been two different ways of understanding its message.

Rabbi Akiva, for example, believed that every word, every letter, every space in The Torah serves a specific purpose and has a specific meaning.

Rabbi Ishmael, on the other hand, was the one who taught us that The Torah speaks the language of human beings. Truth be told, whichever our approach to understanding our sacred literature, one thing is certain — somehow we can always see our own reality reflected in its powerful words.
(more…)

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Tonight is one of those nights when worlds seem to collide in an incredible explosion that links millennia old traditions with the incredibly powerful force of modern pop culture.  It is not often that Halloween happens on Shabbat.  I can’t recall many times in past years when this has been the case; what I do know is that when it happens, people seem to be able to choose without a problem. One would think that Jewish Traditions, especially a Mitzvah such as Shabbat, would be at the top of people’s list to observe!  However, time and time again we convince ourselves that if we want to live in a world as equals and if we want our children to be good citizens of the world, we must participate and enjoy with our neighbors in an American Pop culture phenomenon such as Halloween!  I know, it’s a lot of fun!  How can it not be, lots of candy, costumes, laughs and scares!
(more…)

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Last week, National Public Radio aired an interview where I was asked about the political process and the elections as it has affected Temple Beth Sholom in Las Vegas.  The reporter, Mathew Bell, is a a journalist that works for a news service called “PRI’s The World.”

To listen to the interview click here.

I think the interview went pretty well except for the fact that Temple Beth Sholom was identified by the reporter as a Reform Congregation which is NOT the case.  Temple Beth Sholom in Las Vegas has been a Conservative Congregation for the past 63+ years.

In the interview, you can also listen to Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D-Nevada), Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and one of the past presidents of Temple Beth Sholom, Sandy Mallin.

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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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