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Who owns the Holy Land?
Once again, vivid memories flood my mind as I write for the Temple Times. Almost beautiful memories, like those we experienced during the...
Nov 1, 2023


Parashat Lech Lecha: Finding the Strength to Thrive
Parashat Lech Lecha offers us a profound and transformative perspective. The phrase "Go from your land, from your birthplace, from your...
Oct 27, 2023


Parashat Noach: We Are Our Brother's Guardians
Parashat Noach encompasses two prominent stories; two stories that have always stayed with us in memory. The first, of course, is the...
Oct 19, 2023


Parashat Bereshit: Our Responsibility to Israel as Jews
We have always been a people with a religion and a long tradition of taking responsibility. Responsible for the world around us, for our...
Oct 13, 2023


Statement Condemning Recent Attacks Against Israel
Members of Temple Beth El of Utica strongly condemn the savage attacks carried out by extremist fanatics from the terrorist organization...
Oct 9, 2023


An important year ahead
I am writing these lines as the melodies and words of the prayers of Yamim Noraim (High Holy Days) confront our conscience with the...
Oct 8, 2023


October 2023 | Message from our president
As you read this, the high holy days of 5784 are almost over. It was a very busy time, as it is every year. I would like to show my...
Oct 8, 2023


Parashat Shemini Atzeret: Counting the Mitzvot
How many mitzvot are there? I am not referring to how many we fulfill or should fulfill, as some argue that there are mitzvot related to...
Oct 5, 2023


Parashat Shabbat Sukkot: The Tradition of Sharing Your Dwelling
It is the first night in the sukkah, and what better way to celebrate than also observing Shabbat? The book of Vayikra (Leviticus) says:...
Sep 29, 2023


Parashat Ha'azinu: We are a People of Music
A Hasidic tale recounts that when the Baal Shem Tov sensed that a calamity was approaching for his people, he would retreat to a place in...
Sep 22, 2023


Parashat Rosh Hashanah: The Two Beings Who Live Inside All of Us
תִּקְע֣וּ בַחֹ֣דֶשׁ שׁוֹפָ֑ר בַּ֜כֶּ֗סֶה לְי֣וֹם חַגֵּֽנוּ Sound the shofar on the New Moon, on the appointed time for the day of our...
Sep 15, 2023


Parashat Nitzavim-Vayeilech: The Torah is not in the Heavens
Lo Bashamaim hi. The Torah is not in the heavens. The Talmud illustrates this with a story we have shared before, the story of Taanuro...
Sep 8, 2023


Parashat Ki Tavo: To Whom Do We Owe Our Successes?
"And when you come to the land that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, and you possess it and dwell in it, you shall take...
Sep 1, 2023


Parashat Ki Tetzei: A Love that Lasts
Have you ever experienced loving in an irrational way? I mean those loves that burst into your life and take over your body, your soul,...
Aug 25, 2023


A path toward coexistence
I still have the images in my mind of the beautiful celebration at Temple Beth El for my rabbinical ordination. Interestingly, what...
Aug 18, 2023


Parashat Shoftim: Even a King Must Be Humble
Once again, the Torah places us in a situation where it recommends, instructs, and guides us on the path of humility. It's challenging to...
Aug 18, 2023


September 2023 | Message from our president
Shalom, Come see our new Ark! It is a masterpiece created by craftsman Solomon Goldbas. After months of planning, designing and...
Aug 17, 2023


Parashat Re'eh: Rising Up Out of Suffering
“See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God that I am...
Aug 11, 2023


Parashat Ekev: What it Truly Means to Listen
Parashat Ekev is the third in the Book of Devarim, or Deuteronomy. Ekev features a term that is repeated several times, actually more...
Aug 4, 2023


Parashat Va'etchanan: Remembering the Values of a Nation
The Israeli Parliament (the Knesset) approved the controversial "reasonability" bill last Monday with 64 votes in favor and 0 against....
Jul 28, 2023
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