Esther and Shmuley Rothenberg are getting ready for bed. Esther stares at her reflection in a full-length mirror. “All I see in this mirror is an old woman. So many wrinkles, bags under my eyes, flab on my arms. Shmuley, tell me something positive so I can feel better about myself.” Shmuley considers this for […]

As the story is told, scientists determined that within two weeks the entire world would be destroyed by a catastrophic flood. The entire planet would be totally under water and there is nothing that could be done about it. All the major religions convened their greatest leaders to discuss how to prepare their congregations for […]

It’s been phenomenal how widespread the expression of grief has been for the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg. This is true not just among Jews but among American’s in general. This feisty Jewish grandmother, diminutive in height but mighty in intellect, is an inspiration to all of us because she fought for full equality, […]

The wall is made of long narrow metal planks sunk deep into the ground and extends high into the sky. The planks are set on the bias, creating a louvered look that permits a view of the other side. The wall travels as far as the eye can see, dividing city of Nogales, Arizona, from […]

Yom Kippur Morning 5778/2017   A young rabbi stood on the bima delivering his Yom Kippur sermon. Wanting to make a strong impression he banged on the lectern as he loudly delivered the first line of his sermon, “Every member of this congregation will die someday!” He paused and looked around at the somber look […]

Kol Nidre 5778/2017   It’s been a bad year for the truth. A very bad year. We’re only now, day by day, learning much real news was maligned as fake news. And how much fake news was dressed up to look like real news.  большое спасибо, Мать Россия – Thank you very much, mother Russia. […]

Rosh Hashanah Morning 5778/2017   Perhaps you’ve heard: After having dug to a depth of 1,000 meters last year, French scientists found traces of copper wire dating back 1,000 years and came to the conclusion that their ancestors had a telephone network all those centuries ago. Not to be outdone by the French, an English […]

Erev Rosh Hashanah 5778/2017 I love to sail. I love the sound and motion, the way the boat heels over in response to a gust of wind, and, gathering speed, slices through the water. I love the sounds of splashing waves, sails stretching tight in a freshening breeze, and the rhythmic, metallic ping of the […]

Rabbi David B. Cohen November 25, 2016Having been in Israel two weeks ago, I was reminded how closely the Jewish holidays track the actual weather. With rare exceptions, the end of Sukkot brings the arrival of rain.Our liturgy reflects this. From late spring until fall, we add to the Gevurot the words, מוריד הטל״ Morid […]

Yom Kippur Morning Sermon | Wednesday, October 12 | Rabbi David B. Cohen “Let’s Be Real: Mental Health Issues in Our Jewish Community”