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 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 | 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...
by Rabbi Ken Brodkin | Mar 17, 2020 | Month, Parsha
On Thursday night I got a frantic call from my wife. “I’m at Winco – get over here! I need you.” It’s not my wife’s usual response to shopping at Winco. I drove over as fast as I could. As I entered the store, all the panic I felt emanating from my cell...
by Rabbi Ken Brodkin | Jan 28, 2020 | Holiday, Parsha, Va'Era
A conversation between G-d and Moshe reveals a key to overcoming setbacks. We all face setbacks. They are an integral part of our journey. A tendency is to be discouraged. We often feel that a setback is evidence that the steps we took forward were misguided. After a...
by Rabbi Ken Brodkin | Jan 14, 2020 | Posts, Vayechi
A Torah Perspective When we reflect on Bereishit, some might say that we are looking at a Patriarchal world. A world in which fathers—men—define the family and the tribe. In truth, the Imahot were obviously pivotal in defining the family. Nevertheless, reflecting on...
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