Archive for October 2025

Bereshit – Gainesville Welcome back to the beginning of the Torah and probably the most misunderstood portion in Western religious history.  This is because, more than any other section of the bible, so many people take this portion completely literally.  The earth was created in 6 days.  Man and woman created on the seventh.  There was a talking serpert…

SUKKOT GAINESVILLE Americans have a deep desire to either be happy, pretend we are happy, or make everyone else happy! In Teen Academy class, during a very spirited discussion of suicide and the Jewish texts around that difficult subject, one of the students suggested that it is our job to talk someone into happiness and…

Yom Kippur Morning Rabbi Cy Stanway American society loves to assign names to significant and, oftentimes, not-so-significant events. Every month brings with it a whole set of “Whatever Appreciation of the Month.” There is everything from Cheese Appreciation Month to Hug Your Podiatrist Month. I am not sure who pays attention to all or any…

Shir Shalom – Gainesville Temple Shir Shalom: Gainesville
 Rabbi Cy Stanway When I became an American many years ago, someone told me that it is now my duty to pay attention to baseball.  Taking their admonition to heart, I did what I always do when I need to expose myself to something: I bought a…