June 28, 2017
June 28, 2017
Dear Friends, In this week’s Torah portion, we are presented with one of the strangest rituals in the entire Torah. God instructs Moses to make a copper serpent and mount
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June 21, 2017
June 21, 2017
Dear Friends, The American Jewish community has a long history of supporting causes that ensure the liberties of all human beings in the world, and during this past weekend in
Continue readingJune 14, 2017
June 14, 2017
Dear Friends, “Youth are not vessels to be filled, but rather fires to be lit.” This axiom from the Roman philosopher Plutarch is the punchline of this 45 second video clip
Continue readingJune 7, 2017
June 7, 2017
Dear Friends, On May 2-4, I was lucky enough to be part of a delegation of rabbis, evangelical ministers and imams that traveled to Abu Dhabi for a peace conference.
Continue readingJune 1, 2017
Faith and the Restoration of Civil Discourse
The earth is the home to over 7 billion people speaking over 6,500 languages. Yet, despite this diversity of culture and heritage, human behaviors are remarkably similar, as we are
Continue readingMay 31, 2017
May 31, 2017
Dear Friends, For Jews throughout history, the ability to impose a sense of order and control in the wilderness of life is rooted in Torah. Torah is our spiritual guide.
Continue readingMay 24, 2017
May 24, 2017
Dear Friends, The ceremony of Confirmation as a Jewish life-cycle event has its roots in Reform Judaism. The ritual of Confirmation was introduced in 1810, when the Reform Movement in
Continue readingMay 17, 2017
May 17, 2017
Dear Friends, Last Sunday was Lag BaOmer, a holiday marking the 33rd day of the Counting of the Omer. This relatively obscure observance in Reform Jewish circles is a fun-filled
Continue readingMay 12, 2017
May 10, 2017
Dear Friends, In our Torah portion this week, we are permitted an early glimpse of how the Bible attempts to shape the sacred nature of our lives by setting celebrations
Continue readingMay 3, 2017
May 3, 2017
Dear Friends, Yesterday was Yom HaAtzmauut (Israeli Independence Day) and in the spirit of solidarity with Jews all over the world, we honor and celebrate the centrality of the Jewish
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Rabbi Gross writes most of what is on this page, and says the rest of it on a Friday night. Everyone is welcome at a service, and you do not need to tell anyone you are coming.