Clergy Blog

My Zionist Statement At a Moment of Crisis for Israel

Rabbi Neil S. Cooper        March 8, 2023 / 15 Adar 5783

Dear Friends,

When Lori and I made Aliya at the end of August, we had great plans for the next chapter of our lives in Israel. Our plans, however, did not include the medical crisis we would confront shortly after...Read more...

Dear Friends,

Each year, the notion of transitions accompanies our entrance into the new year. In a recent message to the congregation, Rabbi Witkovsky pointed out that this High Holiday season, more than most, the theme transitions figures prominently for our congregation. Personally, this theme resonates deeply.

This High Holiday season I mark several transitions of note:

First, as you know, at the beginning of the...Read more...

Dear Friends,

Several weeks ago, in our weekly Torah reading, we read of the Prophet Balaam. Despite the fact that he was not Jewish, the Torah recognizes Balaam as a legitimate Prophet, with the power of pronouncing blessings and curses. When asked by the Moabite King Balak to curse the Israelites, the Prophet responds by informing the King that his pronouncement of blessings and curses are descriptive and, perhaps, predictive but...Read more...

July 7, 2022

Dear Friends,

“Choose Life.” These words from the Book Of Deuteronomy are an apt, two-word encapsulation of the central message of the Torah. In expounding on these words, we tend to focus on the second word: Life. But a mandate to choose life, as opposed to death, is hardly profound. I suggest, therefore that we focus on the first word, on the notion of choice.

In the Garden of Eden, in a world of...Read more...