Our Clergy’s Thursday Thoughts

Gratitude: A Perfect Practice in an Imperfect World

Posted on November 23, 2025

By Rabbi Alex Freedman.

There is a story told about Rabbi Yisrael Salanter, founder of the Mussar movement, who lived during a difficult period in 19th-century Lithuania.
 
One bitter winter night, Rabbi Salanter was walking home through the narrow streets of Vilna. As he passed by a small workshop, he noticed a faint light flickering through the window.
 
Curious—because it was far past closing time—Rabbi Salanter stepped inside.
 
There, in the cold, dimly lit room, sat an elderly shoemaker. His back was bent, his hands were stiff, and the candle he worked by was nearly burned down to the end of the wick.
 
The rabbi asked, “Why are you still working so late? The candle is almost gone.”
 
The shoemaker looked up and smiled softly.
 
He said, “Rabbi, as long as the candle is still burning, there is still time to fix the shoes.”
 
Rabbi Salanter was so struck by these simple words that he repeated them to his students for years—for the shoemaker spoke about life.
 
The shoemaker had so much he could have complained about. So many reasons he could have called it a night: It was frigid cold. It was eerily dark. He was physically uncomfortable. The light was almost out. Yet the shoemaker instead focused on what was going right – the candle was still lit! Even a little light is still a light. 
 
Today is the Shabbat before Thanksgiving. As we know, Thanksgiving is not a Jewish holiday per se. No Kiddush or lighting candles for this one. Americans of other faiths and no faith celebrate the day, gather as families, and express what they are grateful for. And yet…there is something very Jewish about Thanksgiving. For gratitude is a core religious value – in Hebrew, Hakarat HaTov.
These days are deeply challenging for so many Americans for so many reasons. We all face obstacles in our personal lives, within our families, within a hyper-politically divided country, and for Jews, living during a post-October 7th world of heightened antisemitism. If only our problems were as straightforward to fix as a pair of shoes. Thanksgiving is not a day when we should pretend all is perfect. Instead, it’s a day to recognize that there are still many things to appreciate. It’s vital to practice gratitude precisely when life is not ideal. Amidst a darkening world, let’s search out those candles.
 
The Jewish tradition values gratitude not because life has been easy for the Jewish people historically – the opposite! Indeed, to be a Jew is to be part of a grateful people. This is true historically since we have needed countless blessings in order to survive and thrive as we do today. And it’s true linguistically as well. The Jews are יהודים, or those descended from the tribe of Judah, יהודה. Here’s the story with our name:
 
In next week’s Parsha, Vayetze, our matriarch Leah gives birth to her sons. Aside from the obvious physical pain, the arrival of her first children should bring joy and bliss. But that’s not what Leah experiences at all. It’s her sister Rachel who captures the heart of their shared husband Jacob, not Leah. This crushes her. A torrential sadness then spills out into the names of Leah’s first three children. She calls her first son Reuven because “G-d has seen my affliction.” Next is Shimon, for “G-d heard that I was unloved and gave me this one too.” Then follows Levi, because “This time my husband will become attached to me for I have borne him three sons” (Gn. 29:32-34). How awful.
 
It is nothing short of shocking, then, when Leah names her fourth son Judah. She names him Yehuda as she affirms, “This time I will thank G-d. הפעם אודה את השם” (Gn. 29:35). From the depths of pain bursts forth this rush of gratitude. 
 
The Rabbis ask, Why? Why does Leah thank G-d only after this fourth son of hers? What changed? The Midrash says that Leah was a prophet who could foresee that there would be 12 sons born to four women: Leah, Rachel, and their maidservants Bilhah and Zilpah. This meant that, in fairness, each mother should be allotted three. Her fourth son, therefore, was above and beyond, more than she deserved. His name Judah reflects a deep awareness: she had received more than she ever imagined. Alternatively, maybe she noted for the first time what she had, instead of what she lacked.
Leah acknowledges this unexpected blessing with gratitude. “This time I will thank G-d. הפעם אודה את השם.” Odeh has the same root as Modeh Ani, I am grateful. As Todah Rabbah, thank you. As Modim Anachnu Lach, we are grateful to You. As Yehudi, Jew.
 
The Hasidic commentary Iturei Torah says that Leah’s expression of gratitude, of recognizing she had more than she deserved, is why Jews are called Yehudim. We too should aim for lives filled with praise and gratefulness, with the realization that in many ways we each have more than we deserve.
 
And now, back to reality. It’s not easy at all to pivot to that lofty perspective. Gratitude is not merely a feeling that some people seem to have in abundance while others do not. Instead, gratitude is a muscle. It’s something we practice, and the more we do, the more we acquire that feeling.
 
The Jewish people are not inherently more grateful than others. In fact, sometimes it seems that we are uniquely gifted at pointing out what is wrong in the world, and with Kiddush. But the Jewish tradition offers us a discipline that indeed strengthens the gratitude muscle: Brachot, blessings. During our prayers we recite so many blessings thanking G-d for all that surrounds us. There are blessings to recite outside of synagogue as well: upon waking up- Modeh Ani. Before and after eating- thanking G-d for nourishing our bodies. Upon reaching a special milestone – the Shehehiyanu, which marks something new or wonderful happening to us, like a graduation or a birthday. The Talmud says we should each recite 100 blessings every day. Not because G-d needs the praise, but because we need the practice. If we come to synagogue, we take care of a lot of them here. But the big idea is that there are many moments during the day when we should be grateful for what we have.
 
We say our blessings so we can see our blessings.
 
As  I said before: This doesn’t mean that everything around us is perfect. But these blessings have us search out the candles that shine around us, as it were.
 
Modern psychology is rediscovering what our tradition has long taught. A 2021 Harvard Health essay echoes our ancient religious tradition: “In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships. And, although it may feel contrived at first, this mental state grows stronger with use and practice.” 
 
Before eating dinner next Thursday night, many American families will go around the table saying, “I am grateful for X.” This is a wonderful thing. The Jewish reflex, I believe, is to go one step further and say, “Thank you, G-d, for X.” Next Thursday and every day.
 

The Gift of Dedication

Posted on November 20, 2025

By Hazzan Jenna Greenberg.

Last Shabbat we announced the upcoming month of Kislev, which begins tonight with our monthly gift of Rosh Chodesh. In other words, we are officially in the “Chanukah Zone!” As we countdown to our Festival of Lights, let us each take a moment to consider the meaning of this holiday’s name. The word Chanukah means dedication, and in reference to the holiday, we recall the re-dedication of the Temple after its destruction.

We also see this word in our daily morning liturgy, as we recite Psalm 30 every morning. It begins with the words Mizmor shir Chanukat ha bayit l’David, A Psalm, A song for the dedication of the house, for David. Added to the liturgy in the 17th century under the influence of Lurianic mysticism, it mentions the name of God ten times. Because of this repetition, there seems to be a theme of dedication not only to the Temple, the “house,” but to God as well.

In this sense, Chanukah, as it appears in this Psalm, as a holiday, and as a core Jewish value, reminds us to consistently dedicate ourselves to our holy spaces and ultimately to God. Its repetition in Psalm 30 reminds us not to forget this theme, as we recite these words each morning, every day of the year. Chanukah is the only holiday which spans two Hebrew months, as it begins at the end of Kislev, and continues through the first days of Tevet. This reminds us that dedication of ourselves to God and the wider community is an eternal, timeless gift.

As we enter the month of Kislev this evening, let this be a reminder, during our countdown to the holiday, to dedicate ourselves to setting new goals for ourselves, to deepening our relationships with our fellow Jews, and through these actions, to recognizing God’s presence in our lives.

To connect our more modern theme of giving gifts on this festival, let us consider the gift of re-dedicating our relationships to ourselves, our community, and to the Divine.

Chodesh Tov!

 

Chayei Sara: The Kindness and Strength of our Matriarchs

Posted on November 13, 2025

By Hazzan Jacob Sandler.

In the wake of Sarah’s passing, the generations begin to turn. Abraham sets out to find Isaac a wife, tasking his servant Eliezer to find someone from his extended family. The story may be familiar, but I find each year that I’m so taken by Rebecca’s first impression. When asked to help get water from the well, she goes above and beyond to give water to Eliezer’s camels! This in itself is an impressive act of kindness, reflecting a shared sense of values between her and her soon-to-be father-in-law who continues to stand as a model of Chesed – lovingkindness. What makes it more spiritually profound is that Eliezer had scarcely finished praying to Hashem that such a woman would appear and make that exact offer. Coincidence? Narrative device? Miracle? Who’s to say? 

When Laban, Rebecca’s brother (and future father-in-law of Jacob), gets looped into the budding shidduch (matchmaking), I always got the impression that he switched from overprotective and suspicious to performatively welcoming. Maybe I just don’t trust him since he did trick Jacob years later with the classic switcheroo of Leah for Rachel. Nevertheless, the future in-laws welcome Eliezer and give him 5-start treatment. When he is eager to return Abraham with Rebecca, the family is suddenly hesitant to let her go. Eliezer insists they not delay him, as Hashem has already made the errand successful, and ultimately Rebecca is given the final choice in the matter. Some 4000 years ago, that’s incredibly progressive and it brings me such joy to see a woman empowered in our earliest family history. 

Rabbi Amy Kalmanofsky often teaches about Rebecca as the primary actor in that generation of the patriarchs/matriarchs. Isaac being more passive from Akeidah to bestowing blessings, Rebecca is actively choosing to go with Eliezer, actively pushing Jacob to receive the blessing from Isaac, and guiding him to find refuge from a vengeful Esau at Laban’s home.

These are the two complimentary sides of Rebecca that I admire all these generations later. She was an exemplar of kindness and generosity, as well as a chutzpadik, empowered woman who made things happen. In a parsha named for Sarah, which focuses so much on Rebecca, we see in our earliest matriarchs an inheritance of strong, kind women on whose shoulders we continue to stand to this day.

When I think about my own mother, sister, grandmothers, aunts, cousins, I see those threads continue. In my family, the Jewish women don’t get pushed around. They often are the ones running the show with love and kindness. Take a moment and share this with the kind and strong women in your life – and let them know you appreciate the blessing they are.

LIFE IN ISRAEL

Posted on October 23, 2025

By Rabbi Vernon Kurtz.

Living in Israel is living on an emotional rollercoaster. A few days before Simchat Torah this year we were all dreading the reliving of what happened on Simchat Torah, October 7, 2023. Then news came out of a possible ceasefire and the release of the hostages. Immediately, emotions changed from sadness to hopeful expectations. As the negotiations continued our hopes were raised and when the agreement was accepted by both sides there was relief and excitement here in Israel. 

Hoshana Rabbah, the day before Shemini Atzeret in the Diaspora and Simchat Torah here in Israel, is a day of many emotions itself. On the one hand, it is placed during Sukkot, the Season of our Rejoicing, and, on the other, it is symbolically the end of the period of the High Holy Days with its awe and majesty. As Bryna and I went to a Masorti synagogue that morning for the service we were awaiting the news of the release of the 20 living hostages. As I wrote Rabbi Schwab, exactly at 8 am when it was reported that the first 7 hostages were being released the Hazzan uttered the words in the Amidah “Matir Asurim,” “He who releases those who are confined.”  It was quite an emotional moment and our Hallel and Hoshanot prayers were filled with joyous singing.  

We spent that afternoon glued to our television set. It was a split screen. On one side, we witnessed the release of the living hostages and when possible, the reunions with their families. They had endured 2 years of torture and through our prayers, demonstrations and concern we felt they were part of our immediate families. On the other side of the screen was the special session of the Knesset at which President Trump was extolled and during which he delivered his speech. While in the United States there are many people who marched in “No Kings” demonstrations criticizing the President and his policies, here in Israel he could easily be crowned king as each speaker, newspaper editorial and television commentator praised his leadership in releasing the hostages and in working towards a ceasefire. 

Simchat Torah 5786 was filled with celebration and joyous singing and dancing. It had been our custom at our Masorti synagogue, Ma’ayanot, to select appropriate songs to recall the events of Simchat Torah 5783 and those taken hostage for the first 3 hakafot and only then to proceed with the joy of the Simchat Torah festival. That was our plan this year as well. However, as circumstances changed the decision was made to recall past events only during one hakafa and immediately proceed to the joyous singing and dancing. 

Since that day, only a week ago, there is now much anxiety. Hamas has not returned all the captured deceased hostages and has broken the ceasefire several times. In fact, only this week two Israeli soldiers were killed, both from Modiin. One of the soldiers had attended my grandson Shmuli’s high school Yeshiva and prayed at the synagogue where one of Shmuli’s closest friends prays. He was also the brother-in-law of a family in which there are twins who are friends with one of our granddaughters, Anael. We are a small country and all of us are really part of one large mishpacha. 

As I write these words, I am cautiously hopeful and yet filled with anxiety.  We need the ceasefire to stick, for some of the soldiers to return to their homes, families, businesses and study programs and we expect the terrorist organization Hamas to live up to the agreement (that may be too much to ask for). As you know, Jewish life has changed for you as well. We need time for healing, a period during which we can plan for a bright future for the Jewish people here in Israel around the world and, at the same time, be able to confront those wish to harm us by word, deed and political means. 

Towards the conclusion of Parshat Noah, Terach and his family leave Ur of the Chaldees on their way to the land of Canaan. Next week in Parshat Lech Lecha we will read about Abram and Sarai’s continuation of that journey as they make their way to the Promised Land. Bryna and I feel privileged to have followed in their footsteps and to make our home here in the Jewish State. 

As we begin the period known here as “Acharei HaHagim,” “After the holidays,” we pray that this year be one filled with hope, peace, blessings and Beosort Tovot, good tidings for all. 

Sukkot = January 2nd

Posted on October 9, 2025

By Rabbi Alex Freedman.

The most important day for New Year’s resolutions is January 2nd.  Not January 1st.

On New Year’s Day, we may have resolved to do something better, like going to the gym more.  We may have even exercised because work and school were canceled.  But what happens on January 2nd?  When work and school resume and you have to squeeze the workout into your busy day?  To create the habit, you have to make it happen, not wait for it to happen.  What happens on January 2nd is a better indicator of the year ahead than January 1st.

In about four days we’ll gather to celebrate Simchat Torah.  We all know that as soon as we finish the Torah we begin anew with Genesis.  Mere minutes later!  Our reflex is that learning Torah never ends: no matter how old we are or how many times we’ve heard it, the Torah always offers something new.  We seek to turn that value into a habit, which is why we start the Torah over on the same day.

Why does Sukkot, which concludes with Simchat Torah, occur now?  Haven’t we been in shul enough over Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur?  Why not celebrate Sukkot in another month without any holidays?

I believe the answer is because Sukkot is like January 2nd.  Together, the High Holidays mark not only the beginning of the year but a clean wiping of the slate.  Sukkot offers the opportunity to start the year on the right foot and create the right habits: with Mitzvot, with joining as community in shul, with joining friends and family for quality time in the Sukkah.  It’s the logical follow up to the High Holidays because Sukkot emphasizes what we think about on the High Holidays: relationships, community, and G-d. 

May the hostages return home very soon, as reports indicate. That would absolutely elevate our joy this holiday.

Chag Sameach.

Who Will Tell Your Story?

Posted on September 30, 2025

By Hazzan Jenna Greenbeg. 

During this 10th anniversary year of Hamilton: An American Musical, I can’t help but hear the following lyrics in my ear right now: “who lives, who dies, who tells your story.” These lyrics are so evocative of the end of Unetane Tokef, one of the most powerful texts in our High Holiday liturgy. Recited on both days of Rosh Hashanah as well as Yom Kippur in the repetition of the Musaf Amida, we recite these words, which speak of the sacred power of these holiest days of the year. God is the True Judge who remembers each of us, God willing, by inscribing us into the Book of Life. 

And yet, while it is written on Rosh Hashana and sealed on Yom Kippur, nobody knows their ultimate fate, as there is only so much we can control.

The text continues: “How many will pass on, and how many will be born; who will live and who will die…” And what follows is a list, an unbalanced list of dark possibilities with hopeful opportunities, a list of what destiny has the potential to bring to any of us at any time.

But we should not live our life in fear of death. Rather, we should live our lives thinking of how we ultimately want to be remembered, both by the Divine and by those whose lives we impacted. Who will tell your story? What will you do to seal unforgettable memories into the hearts of your colleagues, your friends, your family?

While that open-ended question is full of endless possibilities, our prayer concludes with three very specific ways that we can accomplish this task of who will tell our story, the task of how we want to be remembered: “But T’shuvah, Te’fillah, and Tz’dakah have the power to transform the harshness of our destiny.” Through improving ourselves, through prayer, through righteous giving, we have the ability to be remembered by how we lived rather than how we died.

One of our beautiful supplementary texts in the Machzor Lev Shalem by Leonard Gordon shares the following about this part of this prayer: “We are not praying to be spared and ending in death. We are not even asking that death be postponed. Rather, after reminding ourselves relentlessly of the many ways that life might end, we tell ourselves that the way to cope with ultimate vulnerability is through T’shuvah, Te’fillah, and Tz’dakah. Our goal is not security, but a life of meaning that recognizes our vulnerability but rises beyond it.”

To quote another lyric from Hamilton: “Raise a glass to freedom.” We say “L’chayyim” to the freedom of choice that we have in our short time on earth. Let us all choose a life of meaning through the acts listed above, as well as many more actions we can take to create meaningful experiences and memories for ourselves and others.

May we all strive to live our lives with these questions in mind: Who will tell your story? And what will they say? 

May we all be inscribed in the Book of Life, b’sefer chayyim.

G’mar Chatima Tova

 

Who Was Gedalia, and Would He Fast For Me?

Posted on September 25, 2025

By Hazzan Jacob Sandler.

In the name of Rabbi Jonathan Posner, in the name of Rabbi Abi Weber, in the name of Rabbi Danny Nevins, I recount to you the following story (joke):

Marty and Seymour are sitting on a park bench the day after Rosh HaShanah. Seymour pulls out a big sandwich, and Marty says, “Seymour! What are you doing?! It’s Tzom Gedalia!” Seymour turns to Marty and says, “Ya know Marty, I ask myself: Who was this Gedalia anyway? And would he have fasted for me?” While Marty was considering what to say in response, Seymour continued, “Besides, I don’t fast on Yom Kippur – so why would I fast on Tzom Gedalia?”

It’s a silly joke. And, precluding any health concerns, I do hope you all take the fast of Yom Kippur seriously in whatever way you are able. But I’ve often felt like Seymour. It’s the day after Rosh HaShanah, and I’ve worked my tuchus off hosting, cooking, davening, walking to and from shul — how could the rabbinic powers that be possibly insist on a calendar that places a fast day immediately after such an intense two days.

Another joke — perhaps this helps us reset after some hefty holiday meals? 

No, the fast of Gedalia would have to be deeper than some kind of misguided diet plan. As Seymour asked himself: Who was Gedalia anyway?

After the Babylonians destroyed the first Temple in Jerusalem, they showed just a little mercy to some Jews remaining in Judea. They allowed the Jews to stay and appointed a righteous Jew as their governor. That was Gedalia ben Achikam. Jews who had escaped to nearby places chose to return and join Gedalia’s contingent. Gedalia believed that cooperation and subservience to their Babylonian conquerors would yield the safest results for the Jews living under his governance. But not everyone felt that way.

I think, in today’s world of rising antisemitism, it’s actually quite understandable that some Jews still seek to be accepted by society around them by being “good Jews” according to the values of the time. Others most certainly, and also understandably, have learned not to trust the ruling powers of any given time or place to protect them when the going gets tough. They hold onto their Jewish pride and values, even when it may strain the relationships with those beyond the Jewish community. 

Though we ought to find in ourselves empathy for our fellow Jews who may respond differently to the realities at hand, we also should pride ourselves on how we hold disagreement with each other. Because the story of Gedalia continues.

One Jewish man, Ishmael ben Netania, who was deeply disturbed by Gedalia’s allegiance to the Babylonians and was jealous of Gedalia’s political power took it upon himself to stage a coup. He, along with 10 others, assassinated Gedalia and many other Jews and Babylonians who were with him at a communal meal. In the aftermath of this assassination, the Jews in Judea were afraid of the retaliation that may come. They consulted Jeremiah with a plan to flee to Egypt – where we are famously not supposed to return post-Exodus! Jeremiah appeals to God, and on Yom Kippur is answered that the Jews should stay, and all will be well. He warns the Jews that if they flee to Egypt, the Babylonians will eventually find them there.

Alas, they didn’t listen. They fled, and kidnapped Jeremiah to take him with them. And when Babylonians came to conquer Egypt, Jeremiah was the only one who survived.

The resonance of this story in our time is deep. Whether you were a fan of Charlie Kirk or vehemently disagreed with him, his assassination was without a doubt morally reprehensible. The aftermath of this sort of violence can only lead to more harm in the short term, before healing can come.  

So why do we mark the fast right after Rosh HaShanah? We know that it happened in Tishrei from the biblical sources, and that it had to be between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur based on Jeremiah’s appeal to HaShem. The Rabbis in the Talmud assign it to the 3rd of Tishrei. I assume they didn’t want to fast twice in the same 7-day period, nor take away from the joy of any of the holidays. 

But all these centuries later, why do we still observe this obscure fast day? Because Zechariah insists that it is still important when asked by those Jews who returned from the Babylonian exile centuries later. And the lessons we learn from this story are still very important today.

First, we learn that the death of a righteous person is as tragic (or more) than the destruction of the physical Temple building.

Second, we learn that destruction and violence only begets more destruction. The assassination of Gedalia ultimately led to the full exile of the Jews from Judea, whereas under his governance, some Jews remained in the land.

And third, we learn that in times of distress, we must be prudent and cautious with our actions, and we should look to God for guidance. Perhaps more importantly, when we turn to God for answers, we must be willing to accept those answers even if they don’t align with our initial thinking.

As for Seymour’s second question – would Gedalia fast for you? I’m inclined to say, yes. 

So for all those fasting, Tzom Kal – an easy fast. And for those just hearing about this for the first time: I hope today is given a little extra meaning, and another opportunity for reflection in these 10 days of Teshuva.

 

Shanah Tovah from Rabbi Kurtz

Posted on September 18, 2025

Dear Friends, 

I am writing you this note from Jerusalem to wish you and yours a healthy, happy and peaceful 5786. May we all be written in the Book of Life, Good Health and Peace. 

I also wanted to update you concerning our family and the situation here in Israel. Thank God, we are personally all well. The biggest change in the family is that our oldest grandson, Hadassa and Haim’s son, Shmuli graduated high school. Three weeks ago, he began the Hesder Yeshiva program which combines Yeshiva study with army service. It is a five-year program encompassing both serious Yeshiva study and service in the IDF.  

As to the situation here in Israel, the best I can say is that it remains quite challenging. Our hostages remain in the tunnels of Hamas and each day, it is believed, their situation worsens. We continue to pray for their immediate release. Our soldiers are serving on the borders of Israel and in the major areas of the country protecting us each day. Our army still finds itself in Gaza preparing for serious battles which may claim many lives on both sides and families throughout Israel are attempting to cope with loss, injury and reserve duty which puts a great strain on family dynamics and well-being. 

Only a few days ago sirens sounded in Jerusalem as a missile was launched from Yemen. We were forced to descend three flights from our apartment to our building’s shelter and wait for the all clear signal before we could return to the apartment. The terrorist action at the bus station in Ramot reminded us of the dangers present here and another terrorist action hit very close to home. Last Friday there was a stabbing at Kibbutz Tzuba. One of those injured was Nadav Garr, son of Yossi Garr (whom many of you know from Nativ) and grandson of Rabbi Ronnie and Minda Garr (whom many of you know from Camp Ramah in Wisconsin). Thankfully, Nadav is well and being released from the hospital. The family was present at the Kibbutz for an extended family brunch commemorating the Yahrzeits of Minda’s parents. We are neighbors and very close friends of Ronnie and Minda so it has shaken us up as well.  

I don’t need to relate the geopolitical issues now facing Israel, you are all acquainted with them. It looks to be a very challenging year ahead. 

We are continuously updated concerning the rising anti-Semitism occurring across the United States and Canada and, of course, in many other places around the world. I listened on zoom to the Federation annual meeting last week and heard the speech of Lonnie Nasatir outlining the many challenges that are currently being presented to the Chicagoland Jewish Community. I pray that you and your families are safe and remain so.  

I do wish you to know that life goes on here in Israel. The cafes are full, the streets teeming with people, there is music, dance, art and serious study occurring in all parts of the country. We are very resilient and will remain so in the future. 

We must never forget that we are a people of hope. It Is not by chance that the national anthem of Israel is “Hatikva”. It is part of our inner beings to pray for peace and pursue it. We are an eternal people and we will overcome those who wish to destroy us, once again.  

I thank all of you who continue to reach out to us concerned with our welfare. I look forward to welcoming those of you who plan to visit Israel and show your personal support for the country and our people. I am grateful for all you do assist us – financially, politically and spiritually. Keep it up.  

I continue to teach courses for the Schechter Institute here in Jerusalem on zoom. I am so pleased to study with many of you on Sunday mornings, Chicago time. If you are interested in learning with me the information is found in the Continuing Education brochure. You can also turn to Rachel Kamin for details. 

There is a piyyut, a religious poem, that is found in many of the Selichot prayer services here in Israel. It states: “May the year and its curses end; may the new year and its blessings begin.” This is my prayer for you and yours personally and for all of us collectively.  

May we share many blessings in 5786. Shana Tova to all of you from me and Bryna. 

Rabbi Vernon Kurtz 

From Heaven to Earth

Posted on September 11, 2025

By Hazzan Jenna Greenberg.

A couple of years ago, a colleague saw a beautiful Torah cover with Hebrew text with which she was unfamiliar. Upon asking me, I knew exactly where it came from, as I sang this verse years ago in a beautiful choral piece with the Zamir Chorale back in New York. The verse comes from our weekly parasha, Ki Tavo, Deuteronomy 26:15, “Look down from Your holy abode, from heaven, and bless Your people Israel and the soil You have given us, a land flowing with milk and honey, as You swore to our fathers.”

When I think of this verse in the Hebrew, I cannot help but be reminded of the choral setting of this text, which, musically speaking, spanned a wide range of notes, from low to high, from high to low. This is a musical example of word painting, a graphic and vivid description, either in music or writing, that creates a strong image or feeling for its audience. This verse from Ki Tavo spans the spaces from heaven, where God dwells, to earth, the land from which our milk and honey flows. Music aside, the poetic word painting within this verse is quite powerful on its own.

This text reminds us of many things, in particular, the location of the Divine in our lives. God surrounds us, Bashamayim, in heaven. God also dwells among us, in all of our holy places and life experiences. And God dwells within us, as we are all created B’tzelem Elohim, in God’s image.

On this 24th anniversary of 9/11/01, I can’t help but count my blessings. God’s presence in my life on that otherwise sunny Tuesday morning while studying at JTS in New York, was one that brought me great support in a very scary and challenging time. The power of the Divine in our lives can be very palpable, especially at the most difficult of life’s moments. 

Let us all remember the lives tragically lost on that fateful Tuesday morning. May we not forget the blessings in our lives 24 years later. I wish for all of us that the evil of this world will be erased by the good, and that we can continue to find meaningful relationships with God beyond us, around us, and within ourselves.

Shabbat Shalom.

“Remember and Don’t Forget”

Posted on September 4, 2025

By Hazzan Jacob Sandler.

The very end of this week’s parasha, Ki Teitzei, calls on us to remember – and never forget – what Amalek did to us in the desert when we were leaving Egypt. At Beth El, we have a Torah which was rescued from the Holocaust displayed in a glass case outside the sanctuary. This scroll is rolled to this very passage. In addition to reading it at the end of this week’s parasha we read it every year on the Shabbat preceding Purim – Shabbat Zachor. 

You may wonder why out of the entire Torah, do we read this passage twice? Or perhaps it’s curious that out of all the passages we might have used in displaying our rescued scroll, we highlight this passage.

It reads, “Remember what Amalek did to you on the way, when you went out of Egypt, how he happened upon you on the way and cut off all the stragglers at your rear, when you were faint and weary, and he did not fear God. Therefore, when the Lord your God grants you respite from all your enemies around you in the land which the Lord, your God, gives to you as an inheritance to possess, you shall erase the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!”

What Amalek did — attacking from the back — was morally repugnant. Targeting the weakest, the elderly, the sick, the children. It is, by definition, what we call “terrorism” today. It would be different, though still unfortunate, if Amalek had picked a fair fight and chose to battle the Israelites warriors instead. But this was not their tactic. And it says, “he did not fear God” which I understand to be a euphemism for “he acted with no reverence for morality.” Amalek didn’t care that it was wrong, he only cared that it was doable.

To erase the memory of Amalek and completely wipe them out is a bold and difficult command. I recall attending a shabbat morning study session where someone referred to this as a genocidal commandment, and expressed discomfort and aversion to the idea that a whole group should be erased in such a way. This person wasn’t defending the actions of the Amalekites in the desert, but wasn’t sure about collective punishment across generations. 

One response to that discomfort is to point out that there is a timely element to the command – it is to happen “when God grants you respite from your enemies around you in the land…” Following that logic, and staying intentionally in biblical times, I direct you to the Haftarah for Shabbat Zachor, when Samuel the prophet instructs King Saul to massacre the Amalekites and put all of them, men, women, children, even the livestock to the sword. Samuel says that the time for fulfilling that command had come. Whether the modern reader would be on board is neither here nor there. This is the time to fulfill that command. What happens in this story is that King Saul only mostly does what he’s told. The best of the livestock, Saul wants to offer to God, and worse yet, he brings King Agag back alive. The story ends with Saul being stripped of the kingship, ultimately replaced by David.

Even more interesting is that Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin and is a direct blood relative of Mordechai from the Purim story. And Haman ben Ham’data haAgagi (The Agag-ite) is descendent of King Agag. The rivalry of these two men may well go back several centuries. On Purim, when the Jews were allowed to defend themselves, they did so. And in a way, Haman and his sons’ death is a moment when the command was finally fulfilled. All these years later, I don’t see any Amalekites, right? 

The scroll we saved from the holocaust is open to this passage because the Nazis took on the mantle of Amalek. They sought our destruction, and did so by the most extreme and repugnant means – they did not fear God. And we are called upon to remember the holocaust, and also never forget. Just as we are commanded to remember what Amalek did when we first left Egypt and never forget. Just like every year on Purim we remember what Haman tried and failed to do, and we never forget. It’s devastating that we still see neo-nazis in our country, and face holocaust denial among the many forms of Antisemitism that plague the world today.

Amalek was a person, then a nation and now Amalek is more like a way of being in the world. It’s any ideology which seeks destruction by any means necessary, with no regard for the sanctity of human life, or engaging in a “fair fight”. On October 7th, 2023, Hamas took a page right out of the Amalek playbook. And the other major form of antisemitism we find today is the myriad people defending Hamas’s tactics as “justified resistance” or “contextualized.” So once again, we’re called on to remember. Remember the 48 remaining hostages who need to be returned. And never forget. Never forget the many lives taken too soon on that day and the days since. In the aftermath of that day, I understand why this passage is read twice each year, and is displayed as it is. It was a long time ago, when we first left Egypt and Amalek attacked. Yet, we remember. We haven’t forgotten, and we will never forget.