Rabbi Maderer Rosh Hashanah Sermon: The Shofar of Loneliness Awakens
There is a new four-letter word in my household — plan. In these past months, we have essentially banned the word plan. We have hopes, we have scenarios, but when […]
The Binding of Isaac by Carl Schneider
A Commentary on Gen. 22:1-19 by Carl Schneider The Bible tells us Abe and Ike To Mount Moriah took a hike, To do the sacrificial bit. Who was the victim? […]
Breaking Bread on Broad Prayer by Ellen Poster
From Psalm 11 – a Sukkot Prayer for Breaking Bread on Broad Families Inspired by Rabbi Eli Freedman’s Sukkot sermon for 2020 There is a catastrophe happening. The foundations […]
“Lift Up Your Eyes on High and See: anti-Semitism and this Shabbat of Comfort”
Delivered by Rabbi Jill Maderer on Friday, July 31. Eicha—how could this be. These are the first words of the Book of Lamentations, the biblical book read this past week […]
Embrace Your Values: Our Lives Should Not Feel Like “A Driven Leaf” by Rabbi Emeritus Alan Fuchs
Elisha ben Abuyah is the main character in Milton Steinberg’s famous novel, As a Driven Leaf. Elisha is born in second century Palestine, under Roman rule and Hellenistic influence. His […]
Access to the Blessing: George Floyd, Our Privilege, and White Supremacy: Rabbi Jill Maderer
Rabbi Maderer delivered this sermon on June 5, 2020. Our congregation mourns the brutal killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and countless others whose stories we see in the news and whose […]
RS Statement on Anti-Racism
The divine image has been diminished by the recent unconscionable killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Dreasjon Reed, Tony McDade, and countless others, manifestations of systemic racism that has for many […]
The Path Forward: Rabbi Jill Maderer Annual Meeting Address 2020
In one of Michael Hauptman’s Yom Kippur speeches, he recalled the story of the building that was made without light fixtures, so that each member of the community would feel […]
Inaugural Address 2020: President Hank Bernstein
Thank you, Michael, for your kind introduction and for serving as my mentor and guide throughout this last year, helping, along with Rabbi Maderer, to prepare me for this role. […]
Annual Meeting 2020 Address from Michael Hauptman
Good evening and welcome to the 2020 Annual Meeting of Congregants. While the format for this meeting may feel a little different than in the past, the purpose remains the […]