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Erev Yom Kippur: #MeToo
In the more traditional and Orthodox prayer books, there is a paragraph that Jewish men are supposed to recite every morning. It declares the following: “Baruch atah Adonai E.M.Ha.O she’lo asani eesha,” “Blessed are you, Adonai our God, King of…
Read MoreRosh Ha’shana, Day 2 Sermon: 9/11
I was just sitting down to drink my morning coffee back in California, trying to wake up at 6:00 am, when my sister called me from Israel—unusually early. “I wonder if she got the time difference wrong again?” I thought…
Read MoreRosh Ha’shana, Day 1 Sermon: Shul
I’d like to wake you all up this morning with a funny short story I’ve recently read on Facebook: “A man decides to stop using social media. Instead he’s determined to make friends without the benefit of Facebook, but still…
Read MoreErev Rosh Ha’shana Sermon: God
“Much have I learned from my teachers, more from my colleagues, but most from my students,” says the Talmud. As a rabbi and teacher, my students often ask questions that stump me. Don’t get me wrong: I LOVE it! Being…
Read MoreOur First Paws Shabbat
We LOVE the outdoors at Temple Beth Tikvah! Friday 6/29 we celebrated Shabbat Under the Stars. Thank you Sue W. and Emily S. for overseeing this evening! And today, Saturday 7/7 we celebrated our “Furry Friends” with Paws 🐾 Shabbat….
Read MoreResponding to Current Events in our Borders
Our Jewish tradition calls on us to welcome the stranger…
Read MoreIn Their Honor
Memorial Day may not be a Jewish holiday per se, but the concept of remembering and honoring our brave military people who risk, and sometimes give, their lives in service to the rest of us is certainly a Jewish value….
Read MoreAnimals Teach Us the Meaning of “Oneness.”
Parshat Emor, 5/4/18 While writing this sermon, I had in mind our 4th Graders who co-lead the service with the guidance of their teachers, Ms. Beth Julie, and our educator, Ms. Marian Kleinman. They did such an amazing job: everyone’s…
Read MoreIt’s All Your Fault!
Parshat Achrei Mot/Kedoshim (Leviticus 16:1-20:27) This past week’s short sermon catered to our 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders who participated in leading the service (they did such a beautiful job BTW), as well as their families. It is written in…
Read MoreFor Everything There is Time Under The Heavens: A Time to Speak, and a Time to Remain Silent
This week holds a very powerful place in the heart of almost every Israeli: it is the week between the Holocaust Memorial, Yom Ha’Shoa, and Yom Ha’Zikaron, Memorial Day for slain Israeli soldiers and victims of terror attacks. Both commemoration…
Read MoreQuestioning the Counting of the Omer
On a Facebook Jewish Women’s clergy group the other day, someone posted the question, “Are you counting the Omer? Why/why not?” My response, “No, No. It’s an old custom/ritual that simply doesn’t speak to me…and since my congregants don’t seem…
Read MoreChag Aviv Sa’meach!
Does Moses’ name appear in the Passover Haggadah? Are we still subject to enslavement? These questions and more in the Rabbi’s Blog will help you have a happy and thoughtful Passover.
Read MoreLive From Israel, It’s TBT!
Highlight photos of Rabbi Meeka’s 2018 tour of Israel.
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Read MoreBefore Our Group Leaves for Israel
My Dear Congregants, Before we leave for our Israel trip, please allow me a few moments of your time by reading this message: Friday is here. Everyone is busy planning for the long weekend, the celebratory “Presidents’ Day,” coming up…
Read MoreVa’era: What if this time we are the pharaohs?
What if we are the pharaohs?
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