The Important Sermon

Group gathered outdoors at dusk with guitar player.

While Standing (Six Feet Apart) on One FootApril 6, 2020 My daughter was ambling through one of the open air markets a couple of months ago (BC – Before Covid!) and she found a gift for me. It is sitting on my desk in the temple office. It is mug and on it is written,…

Read More

Cruel Irrelevancy

People with luggage inside a narrow indoor space, some wearing masks.

While Standing (Six Feet Apart) on One FoodErev Shabbat, April 3, 2020 The Israeli Chief Rabbinate just issued a halachic ruling about Zooming on Pesach. It can be distilled to one word: forbidden. But, of course. Their logic, though, is fundamentally correct. Since no lives are endangered if you don’t Zoom and have a virtual…

Read More

At Gehinnom’s Table

Tall flagpole with an American flag in a backyard near a house.

While Standing (Six Feet Apart) on One Foot April 2, 2020 I am frustrated and angry. There is a well-known Hassidic tale that goes like this: ‘What will it be like in the world to come? It is said that evildoers would be punished by not being able to bend their arms. The chasid queried…

Read More

A Quiet Act of Rebellion

Cyril Stanway

While Standing (Six Feet Apart) on One FootApril 1, 2020 Pirke Avot, the important sayings of our Sages said this some 1800 years ago: Rabbi Levitas a man of Yavneh said: be exceeding humble spirit, for the end of man is the worm. Humility is the characteristic of a wise and good person. In times…

Read More