It’s funny what happens right after Rosh Hashanah and in preparation for Yom Kippur. I have a friend who says that he never writes his Yom Kippur sermons before Rosh Hashana in case The Meshiach comes right before Yom Kippur, he would then have to re-write his Yom Kippur sermons, so why work superfluously? 

Many people came up to me right after the second day of Rosh Hashanah and asked me what I would be speaking about on Yom Kippur. When I answered that I didn’t know, some of my friends thought I was being facetious. The truth is that I do work hard on my messages for the Yamim HaNoraim, after all it is like “The Super Bowl” for Rabbis, but I must add that even though I have extensive notes with me on The Bimah, I almost never have a full manuscript of my sermon with me. When it comes to delivering my messages during Shabbat and Holy Days, I do it from notes that I have sketched out on several pieces of paper, and that is why when people ask me for a copy, it is sometimes hard for me to produce one. 

For the first time in many years and to the best of my ability, I am going to try and reconstruct some of my sermons to post them on my blog. Here is my first attempt, the sermon for The First night of Rosh Hashanah 5769.

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More often than not, people ask me what my favorite websites are. I really have many websites that I go to constantly, but there are a few that I believe are true gems and everyone should visit them. I have decided to post one of my favorite websites each week on my blog. Since many of us spend more time online than we spend watching TV or reading the newspaper, I think it is important to access websites that will give something back to our Jewish Identity. (more…)