Three Kidnapped Israeli Boys Found Dead Outside Hebron
‘A Voice Says: Cry Out! And I Say: What Shall I Cry?’ (Isaiah 40:6) With the discovery of the bodies of the three kidnapped and murdered students, Gilad Shaar, Naftali […]
Crowd Sourcing Sermon Topic for July 4
For the sermon on Friday, July 4, our clergy will be drawing inspiration from your comments to the question: Have you ever felt that food is sacred? How does food […]
Crowd Sourcing Sermons
Imagine that you are a member of the Rodeph Shalom clergy team, and you could tap into the collective wisdom of our congregation to help you write your sermons this […]
The Work Of Jim Winters as discussed on ReformJudaism.org
A continuing theme running through the book of Exodus is the coming and going of both Moses and God. After the lengthy drama of the Exodus, Moses disappears up the […]
God Made You Holy: Buerger Early Learning Center Graduation poem
Rabbi Jill Maderer’s Blessing to the Buerger Early Learning Center Graduates, Congregation Rodeph Shalom, 2014 (Inspired by this year’s Dr. Seuss week…) The sun did not shine, It was […]
When Are We Afraid of the Wrong Thing?
Compelled by stories of catastrophe, novelist Karen Thomson Walker, recently (TED Talk) offered an interpretation of the story of the Whaleship Essex. In 1820, 3000 miles off the coast of […]
Counting the Omer: I stand with Ruth
On this final day of the Omer as we enter Shavuot and read the Book of Ruth, we reflect upon her immigration into the land and people of Israel, the loving-kindness with […]
Counting the Omer: Liberated, Only to Be Bound
What is freedom in a world of obligation? Liberation in a religion of responsibility? As we move further from Pesach and closer to Shavuot, consider David Brooks’ ideas about how […]
Counting the Omer: Redemption
Today, as you count the Omer, think about the traditional Jewish idea of redemption (geulah) and how it applies in the world today. The 7th blessing of the amidah/t’fillah on weekdays asks God […]
Counting the Omer: Happiness Is…
Today, as you count the Omer, understand Jewish wisdom about the source of our happiness. Baruch Ata Adonai, Elohenu Melech ha-olam asher kidishanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu al s’firat ha’omer. Blessed are You, […]