Crossing the United States is fascinating, whether by air, auto, water, or train, as I did it this time. I was traveling to my cousin David’s wedding in Ventura, California, and I decided to take the scenic route. It was a different experience. No need to pack and unpack. The food was good, and the company was interesting. We stopped in some of the small towns, usually in the “flyover states.” It took four days and [...]

Last Thursday, I was privileged to stand with more than 70 fellow graduates on the campus of the Jewish Theological Seminary, which this year celebrated its 130th commencement ceremony. Wolf Blitzer, the CNN anchor, delivered the commencement address, which offered inspiring personal stories about his Jewish upbringing. He also shared his observation regarding the surge in antisemitism, but was still hopeful about the Jewish future in America. Reflecting on that experience, I was reminded of a message I wrote [...]

We had a wonderful Seder at the synagogue with about 30 people — young and old, men and women, members and guests, children, all colors. Our B’nei Mitzvah, Julian Graf and Ayla Eisenberg, were chasing the afikomen under the watchful eye of Julian’s older sister, Savana. A festive Seder. Yet a bittersweet Seder this year with the posters of kidnapped Israelis on Elijah’s and Miriam’s chairs. I wore a white cotton shirt, embroidered in blue at the [...]

Every time I read the name Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas, I behold the embodiment of the sin of war. Sin and war are also the two words that make up his name. Like Haman in ancient Persia, who plotted to annihilate a nation, Hamas today holds the same agenda, only by a different name. Gaza has submitted to the sin of war in the underground of Hamas’ state of death. When death [...]

It was one of those moments in synagogue that intrigued me, challenged me to look deeper at Torah commentary. In discourse this Shabbat about the clothing of the High Priest, I was explaining the difference between the word tzitz at the forehead of the High Priest in Exodus 28:36, and tzitzit – the tassels with the singular blue string that we are commanded to extend from the Talit. Twice a day, we read in the [...]

The day I returned from my recent trip to Israel, I attended the funeral of my dear friend Dr. Richard Dackow. Richard and his wife Linda were early students of Project Genesis Interfaith and participated in one of our pilgrimages to Israel. Richard, a devout Catholic, spent most of his time there at Israeli hospitals that he said had saved his life. Considering the closeness of our friendship, the family asked that I deliver a eulogy, [...]

While traveling through Israel during the past two weeks, I saw unforgettable sights — pictures of the kidnapped, of course, but also a sign that reads “Beyachad Nenatzeach” (Together we will win). Togetherness may not have been one of the goals of this war, but it is a goal of the Jewish people to cohere. For part of my time in Israel, I traveled with the Rabbinical Assembly Mission, a group of 24 Conservative rabbis from North America with goals [...]

The dramatic pro-Palestinian demonstration that took place on Nov. 15 gave witness that Columbia University continues to be a battlefield and a tinderbox of Palestinian Protest, colored by a distortion (intentional or not) of the Palestinian cause. Since 2008, I have seen the slow progress of Apartheid Week on the Columbia campus, developing from a small booth to an army. Even after two pro-Palestinian organizations —  Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace [...]