Feb. 24, 2022

Feb.17, 2022 Dear Friends,   What's going on with Amnesty International?   Is there any justification for calling Israel an apartheid state?   We will sort this out at our Shabbat Evening Service (7:30 PM).   What's going on with King Solomon?   Is there any justification for the wisest-of -the-wise to overstep his bounds?   We'll sort this out at our Zoom Shabbat morning Torah study (10:00 AM).    A reminder that there is no religious school this Sunday for President's Day weekend, and we happily return to in-person instruction on the 27th. Shabbat shalom, Rabbi Schwartz

Feb.10, 2022   Book censorship?  Is this something we have to talk about in our country in 2022?   Well, unfortunately the answer is yes, and we will do so at our Shabbat Evening Service (7:30 PM).   On the brighter side at the beginning of the service we will also celebrate the double naming ceremony of Anaya and Adam Goodstein, grandchildren of Paula and Mark Goodstein- mazal tov!    The Book of Kings tells the story of the Davidic dynasty that ruled ancient Israel for four hundred years. This week we begin with the story of the fabled King Solomon at our Zoom Shabbat Morning Torah Study (10:00 AM).    Speaking of books, the next Adas Emuno Book Club meeting is on March 14, and there is plenty of time to read the immigrant classic, The Rise of David Levinsky by famed Yiddish editor Abraham Cahan, which can easily be accessed in the public domain at Google Books.    Last call for our Souper Bowl!  Bring your donated cans of soup to the bin on the school porch at any time this weekend. Shabbat shalom, Rabbi Schwartz

Feb. 3, 2022

Jan. 27, 2022 Dear Friends,   At our monthly Zoom Shabbat Evening Family Service (7:30 PM) we invite our b'nai mitzvah students to help lead us.    Following the service we'll reflect on the lessons to be learned from what happened the week before last at a Texas synagogue that is now classified as both a hate crime and a terrorist attack.       The story of King David is the longest and greatest story of the Hebrew Bible. We look at episodes from his epic life at our Zoom Shabbat Morning Torah Study (10:00 AM).    Souper Bowl alert!  Bring your donated cans of soup to the bin on the school porch at any time. Shabbat shalom, Rabbi Schwartz

Jan. 20, 2022 Dear Friends,    We are immensely relieved and grateful that the rabbi and three congregants of Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, escaped unharmed from their hostage ordeal this past Shabbat, even as we decry continued acts of anti-Semitism and terrorism.      While Tu Bishvat, the New Year of Trees, is a minor Jewish holiday that occurred on the full moon this past Monday, its celebration of the earth and its seasons resonates in our eco-conscious times.   We'll emphasize this connection at our Shabbat Evening Service (7:30 PM).   Saul, the first king of Israel, was betrayed by his son, daughter and protegee David...or so he felt.   We'll sort out a very complicated family situation at our Zoom Shabbat Morning Torah Study (10:00 AM).    And its that time of the year-our Souper Bowl!    Bring your donated cans of soup to the bin on the school porch any time between now and the Super Bowl. Shabbat shalom, Rabbi Schwartz

Jan. 13, 2022

Jan. 6, 2022 Dear Friends,  One year ago today we experienced one of the darkest hours in American history.  Not to put a dampener on the new year, but we're obliged to discuss this awful anniversary.   I'll ask for your thoughts after our Zoom Shabbat Evening Service (7:30 PM).    We begin our second semester of "The Rise and Fall of Ancient Israel" at our Zoom Shabbat Morning Torah Study (10:00 AM). The epic story of Samuel, Saul and David will occupy the next 5-6 weeks- it is grand and there is so much resonance with events today. You are welcome to join us even if you never have before.    Our bi-monthly Zoom Adas Emuno Book Clubmeets on Monday (7:30 PM). Topic: The Magician of Lublin, a classic novel by the Nobel prize winning novelist, Isaac Bashevis Singer. Shabbat shalom, Rabbi Schwartz

Dec. 30, 2021 Dear Friends,   I'll let you in on a big secret- this week's Livestream Shabbat Evening Service (7:30 PM)  is pre-recorded, because both the cantor and I are away.    But you will not want to miss my annual Rabbi's Top-Ten Jewish News Stories!    We review the event filled past year through a Jewish lens.    Keep in mind that you can watch the livestream on Shabbat/New Year's Eve or anytime after that.    Both Torah study and Religious school are on break.    We pray that 2022 will bring health and peace to our families, our country and the world.     Shabbat shalom and Happy New Year, Rabbi Schwartz

Dec. 23, 2021 Dear Friends,    Yes, we will have services for Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve (though not in person)- Shabbat is Shabbat!       From time to time I take note of a Jewish obituary- a life well-lived, worthy of comment, but perhaps missed amongst all the news.   Such is the case of Aaron Feurerstein, a Massachusetts factory owner whose loyalty to his workers made national headlines in 1995 and who passed away last month.    I'll speak about him at our Zoom Shabbat Evening Service (7:30 PM).    Both Torah Study and Religious School are on break this week and next.    Enjoy the winter break, but stay safe! Shabbat shalom, Rabbi Schwartz