RA Convention

What it means for Us.

I was ordained as a Rabbi by The Jewish Theological Seminary back in 1996. Besides serving this community, which I love, being a member of The Rabbinical Assembly remains without a doubt one of the highlights of my rabbinate.

The Rabbinical Assembly is the professional organization of Conservative Rabbis. We number over 1,600 spread around the world, from Chile to Canada, in Africa, Australia, Europe and Asia. The Rabbinical Assembly has been around for over a century and through that time some of our members have made tremendously impactful contributions to The Jewish World. Be it through profound and insightful scholarship or through careers imbued with passion and love for the mitzvot, my colleagues have given of themselves so that values, traditions and most important a way of life that is so dear and vital to us continues to thrive even in difficult times. (more…)

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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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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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Click here to find a write-up of Monday’s event in the Las Vegas Sun.

Monday September 15, 2008. Doors open at 10:45 AM.

Dear Friends,

Very often during this time of the year, I find myself thinking about my grandparents. I do so because Rosh Hashana brings with it memories of distant places far away — not only in the physical sense but also in a very profound spiritual way.

I think of where we came from. I remember the reality that we faced as a people in so many different lands throughout our history and of the sacrifice of those who got to the shores of our great nation seeking a new life. There are blessings that we must be thankful for that we often take for granted, one of those such blessings is democracy and freedom! When Rosh Hashana and Yom Kipur leave us this New Year, we will find our nation immersed in an absolute exercise in democracy, which is the result of freedom and liberty. (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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During our Kabbalat Shabbat at 7:30 PM this evening, we will have the opportunity to listen to a wonderful speaker with a unique message. Randy Neal is the Western Regional Coordinator for Christians United For Israel (CUFI), a national coalition of pro-Israel churches, ministers, Para-church organizations and individuals that serves to mobilize and equip Christians to tangibly stand with Israel. (more…)

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