HASTEN TO DO GOOD— A Vayera Reflection
Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to share a D'var Torah at Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid. Though I don't have the full sermon available, here is an outline in sentence form....
Neilah Sermon: Can We Dance in the Shadows? The Practice of Joy in an Imperfect World
Our final service together on Yom Kippur explored what it means to laugh–and find joy–even amidst tragedy. You can listen to the audio recording here: https://recorder.google.com/4aeaf4c9-78d3-42b8-8b0e… There’s a story in Bava Metzia in the Talmud—the...
Yom Kippur morning Sermon: “Can We Dance in the Shadows? The Practice of Joy in an Imperfect World”
On Yom Kippur morning, we reflected on responding to tragedy through silence, the second of three rungs of responding to tradegy according to the Kotzker Rebbe. Listen to the audio recording here: https://recorder.google.com/4a63fa4e-0438-463f-b140… Timothy Wilson,...
Kol Nidre Sermon: “Can We Dance in the Shadows? The Practice of Joy in an Imperfect World”
On the Kol Nidre, we reflected on responding to tragedy through crying or anger. Even as peace (hopefully) looms in the Middle East, there is still much pain that lingers and trauma that is unresolved....
Rosh Hashanah Sermon: “From Vengeance to Teshuvah: Transforming Pain into Possibilities”
On the first day of Rosh Hashanah, we explored how teshuvah—the act of repair and reflection—is not about revenge or punishment, but about opening ourselves to transformation and new possibilities. Read the transcript or listen...
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Righteousness, and Dying on Rosh Hashanah
TRANSCRIPTION: For many of us, our Jewish New Year of 5781 began with the news of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s passing. Putting politics aside, she dedicated her life to public service and advocacy, and she...
My Trip to Israel: Seeing a Man Who’s Bought Fruits and Vegetables
“What did you do?” “Where did you go?” “What did you see?” These are the natural and anticipated questions. Over this past winter break, I had the joy and privilege of being in Israel with...
Remembering and Forgetting
(In the wake of the shooting in New Zealand, I share an amended version of my words to my synagogue, Congregation Cnesses Israel, in Green Bay this past Shabbat.) In the Jewish calendar, this past...
Growing, Cutting, and Donating my Hair: A Reflection
Pride, Pressure and Principle: A Reflection on My Eighteen Months of Growing, Then Cutting, Then Donating My Hair My unintended personal journey began almost four years ago, when I was then the Associate...
The Particularistic and the Universalistic: Religion in 21st Century North America
(sermon delivered on June 9th, 2012) Shabbat shalom. I would like to talk about two things this morning that have been on my mind. The first is particularistic and the second universalistic. ...