Rabbi's Corner

Tonight and over the next few days, we join with Jewish communities around the world celebrating Purim - the classic example of "they tried to kill us, we survived, let's eat." This humorous summary of Jewish history is a useful shorthand for the pain and suffering...

This past Shabbat, a group of Temple Shalom members joined me for a deep dive into the "why's" and "how's" of wearing a tallit, the prayer shawl traditionally worn by adult Jews at morning services. If you've never tried this mitzvah (sacred obligation) and want to...

As a Jewish people, we are united at times of joy, and far too often, at times of sadness. As I write this note on Wednesday, we are teetering on the precipice of a chasm of grief. Today, Israel will receive the remains of 4 hostages, including the bodies of Shiri...

It is a particular delight of the Diaspora that the largest winter storm to hit Ontario this year comes on Erev Tu Bishvat. Today marks Tu Bishvat, "The New Year of the Trees." While our trees are all covered in snow, the trees in the land of Israel are beginning to...

This week's Torah portion, Beshallach, is the ultimate example of Jewish Joy. A joy that comes right on the heels of suffering, pain, fear, loss, grief. We read the conclusion of the Exodus story - the Israelites are finally, finally freed from Egypt, God miraculously...

Earlier this week, I shared with a colleague that I have two tabs open in both my browser and my brain: the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, and the approaching hostage deal. As of writing, both Israel and Hamas have agreed to a hostage release and ceasefire...

When I was in high school, I had an amazing opportunity to spend a semester in Israel through a Reform movement program then called EIE - the Eisendrath International Exchange. (The program has since gone through a name change, among other changes - learn more here!)...