Each of us has both personal memories and stories told to us by relatives about our family. These tales go back one or even several generations covering the lives lived in America or the “old country.” The old country being somewhere in Eastern Europe, Russia or the Mediterranean Jewish communities.
Rabbi Steinsaltz, who passed away Aug. 7 in Jerusalem at the age of 83, was a rabbi in the most authentic meaning of the word: he was an educator. And the world was Rabbi Steinsaltz’s student body. He spent decades teaching, writing, publishing, lecturing, mentoring and organizing, and all of this work was focused on bringing Jews closer to Judaism and Jewish sources.
Inspiration from Rabbi Zevi Wineberg’s maamar class
The miracle of existence – the profound struggle to find our collective and individual purpose for existence. Adam was given everything in Gan Eden and therefore lacked appreciation, until it was taken away. G-d, through Eve, coerced Adam to eat of the forbidden fruit – a lesson about choices in life that G-d allows us. We’re not given everything as in order to make “good” choices, one has to “learn” awareness, appreciation and gratitude for all we do have. Perhaps the existence of evil and our struggle in life, as well as our God-given ability to make choices is for the essential purpose to ultimately convince each of us to be grateful ¬– to appreciate the amazing miracle of existence brought forth by God. Albert Einstein said, “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”
Rabbi Alan Sherman is a Reform rabbi in southern Florida who is openly supporting President Donald J. Trump. Due to this support — which is common in the Centrist Modern and Haredi Orthodox rabbinate — he is being bullied by other Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist rabbis in the area.
Gloria and Alan Steinzeig at Alan’s 80th birthday party in Las Vegas. All of their kids, grandkids and family members celebrated at The Loft at the Orleans Hotel. (Courtesy)
I’m 91 years old. I’m an ordinary woman, with a story to tell of a 68-year marriage, filled with love, happiness, tragedy and the strength to carry on. I want this love of mine to be an example to all brides to see and feel what marriage the vow – in sickness and in health – really means.
I recently read a very interesting article, “On Humility” by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. The word humility is seen in all Jewish texts; in fact, it is the first step in learning Torah. Moses, the greatest hero of Jewish tradition, is described in the Bible as “a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.” Rabbi Sacks contends in his article that “humility is the orphaned virtue of our age.” He states, “there is an irrepressible human urge for recognition” and our culture has emerged out of various ways of “making a statement” rather than beliefs confessed in prayer.
The topic of teens and peer pressure is not a new phenomenon. Typically, the discussion focuses on sex, drugs and alcohol. The newest concern now, though, is the issue of observing social distancing. As soon as “Stay at Home” rules were eased, parents began expressing concerns about what type of protocol their teens are observing when getting together with friends. Your children might have every intention to follow the guidelines, but when they get to a gathering with friends, they see that many are not taking safety practices seriously. This is putting teens in a very tough situation. Do they say something and risk coming off as the “enforcer?” Do they stay and worry about their and others’ safety? Do they leave and risk being even more isolated from their friends?
Statement from Rabbinical Association in regard to Anderson County cartoon posting
We, the members of the Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City, express our strong disapproval of the disgraceful cartoon posted on the Anderson County Review’s Facebook page depicting Governor Laura Kelly wearing a mask with a Jewish Star of David on it, next to a drawing of people being loaded onto train cars. Its caption is, “Lockdown Laura says: Put on your mask ... and step onto the cattle car.”
Missouri voters have the opportunity to do something meaningful
By Laura Gilman Guest Columnist
The Talmud teaches us: “At a time when the community is suffering, no one should say, “I will go home, eat, drink and be at peace with myself.” –Talmud Bavli Taanit 11A.
