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The Ten Commandments
Fri, February 10, 2012
Shabbat Shalom,
What do you think of when you see the words THE TEN COMMANDMENTS? The older generation sees Charlton Heston holding them on Cecil B. DeMille's Mount Sinai. Legend has it that I was born after the viewing of the film in the movies. It has always connected me to this week's Torah portion in a special way.
For some people, the commandments are a source of choice rather than command. God, Shabbat, and certain moral...
Invocation for the Virginia Senate
Wed, February 1, 2012
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Creator of All, be with those whom we have chosen to lead us, as they come into this chamber to do the work of the people of this Great Commonwealth. Help them to strive to establish justice and opportunity for all who dwell in this birthplace of American patriotism and religious tolerance. Offer your strength and wisdom as they struggle to serve with integrity and humility.
Source of Justice, bless our Commonwealth and all of its...
What Keeps Us Faithful Jews?
Fri, January 27, 2012
Adult Ed Shabbat 1/27/12, by Rabbi Amy R. Perlin, D.D.
When our Adult Education Committee decided that this year’s offerings would fall under the title: A Year of Jewish Questions: What’s Yours?
I received a list of questions that people wanted answered during the sermons this year. Tonight’s question: What keeps us faithful Jews? was one of them.
When I first...
What is a Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund? Where do the donations go? (January KOL)
Tue, January 3, 2012
I have been committed to tzedakahsince I brought my first nickel to Mrs. Tilles’s class as a little...
The Menorah (December KOL)
Mon, December 5, 2011
The New York Jewish Museum, located on Fifth Avenue and 92ndStreet, has the largest collection of Chanukah menorahs in the world. The theme of their permanent collection is Continuity and Change. When I visited the museum years ago, I was struck by the first room of the exhibit, which had four menorahs. The first one was a modern, silver Chanukah menorah created in 1978 by a famous silver designer by the name of L.Y. Wolpert. The second was a...
Opening Prayer for Burke CROP Walk
Sun, November 20, 2011
Thank you for joining CROP walkers all over America, and for raising precious funds to help the most vulnerable and bring dignity to places of the world you will never see, but will be touched with your kindness and advocacy. We thank God for you and for your sponsors.
God of life, Creator of the Universe, you have given us this amazing planet with enough food, water, and medicine for every man, woman, and child. But, we have yet to learn how to care and share, so...
Why Brotherhood and Sisterhood in the 21st Century?
Fri, November 18, 2011
I grew up in a congregation with a Sisterhood and Men’s Club. Every suburban Long Island congregation had one. Sisterhood controlled the temple kitchen and raised tens of thousands of dollars for the temple every year. The Men’s Club ushered on High Holy days, ran the Purim Carnival and was the springboard for temple presidents, who were always men. They were traditional gender-separate organizations popular in the 1950’s, 60’s and...