by Rabbi Ken Brodkin | Jun 5, 2020 | Holiday, Parsha
In 1820, when Missouri applied to join the union as a slave state,Thomas Jefferson described the ensuing dispute like a fire bell in thenight. It was a situation that aroused a vexing tension, just waiting toexplode. Jefferson sensed that he was living on the cusp of...
by Rabbi Ken Brodkin | May 24, 2020 | Holiday, Shavuot
Sitting across my desk, the husband looked at me as his wife gazed down. “Rabbi, he said, “we want to thank you for everything you’ve done for us. But we’ve decided not to continue with the conversion.” I wasn’t shocked at their decision, but it did feel like a loss....
by Rabbi Ken Brodkin | May 4, 2020 | Kedoshim, Parsha
Recently, I reconnected with an old friend on Facebook after a 20-year hiatus. With our renewed “friendship”, I realized that his wife, whom I had known as a devout young lady, left Jewish observance along the way. These life changes happen over time. Seeing it...
by Rabbi Ken Brodkin | Apr 8, 2020 | Holiday, Pesach
Haggadah & Jewish Survival Since the dawn of Jewish time, the Pesach Seder has been a communal affair. Families and groups of friends have gathered every year for thousands of years for this most widely celebrated Jewish holiday. This year, our Pesach tables will...
by Rabbi Ken Brodkin | Mar 31, 2020 | Holiday, Parsha
Restoring a fractured world A question has been circulating on social media about the Coronavirus quarantine: What’s the first thing you’ll do when it’s all over? It’s tempting to think about! But here’s alternative question to ponder: Where we will be when the...
Recent Comments