Category Archives: High Holidays
Yom Kippur: Choosing Life in a Breathless Time
A few months ago, I took a quick trip to see my oldest child, Gabriella, who lives in Washington, D.C. about a 10-minute walk from the White House. On my last day there, Gabi was working from home, and we … Continue reading
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Kol Nidre 2025: Do not miss the Chance: Welcoming the Stranger
When my kids were in BJE preschool many years ago, they had a Passover assembly for parents and extended family. At the assembly, they played the song “Out of Egypt to Be Free,” and along with the song, the kids … Continue reading
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It is Possible to Worry Less.
Yom Kippur 5784 Congregation Beth Am, Buffalo Grove, IL There’s an old joke about a Jewish telegram, it read “Start Worrying. Letter to follow.”[1] Then there’s the joke about four people who get lost while hiking in the desert together. It’s … Continue reading
Posted in Congregation Beth Am, Fear, Gratitude, High Holidays, Holocaust, Jewish Jokes, sermons
Tagged Beth Am, community, Faith, High Holidays, Holocaust, Hope, Jewish Jokes, Sermon
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Caring about Israel is to Care about Democracy.
Kol Nidre 5784 Congregation Beth Am, Buffalo Grove, IL One particular day when I lived in Israel as a first-year rabbinic student was particularly memorable. Friends and I gathered to watch the historic Oslo Accords in my small apartment—the old city … Continue reading
Posted in Congregation Beth Am, High Holidays, Israel, sermons, Uncategorized
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Suing the Nazis: A Rosh Hashanah Sermon
In my early twenties, I dreamt a version of the following dream many times: I was a young adult in a Nazi concentration camp, and I was trying to save young children and babies from extermination. The dreams always ended before … Continue reading
Posted in Anti Semitism, Congregation Beth Am, Hate, High Holidays, sermons, Shana Tova
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Do Not Despair: A Yom Kippur Sermon
There is cable news station that is often on in my house, or on my Sirius XM radio in the car… until someone tells me to turn it off. I don’t have a lot of time to listen or watch … Continue reading
Kol Nidre: You Have Permission
[To the tune of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood theme song] It’s a beautiful eve in the sanctuary, a solemnly evening in the synagogue. I’m glad you’re here, I’m glad to share, this holy day with you. I was 36 years old … Continue reading
We Stand Here Today: The Trajectory of A Blessed Shul
In 2012, I stood before you and shared that I often feel like I am living in a Bible story, at that time I admitted that I felt as if I was living in Exodus when God commanded, Asu Li … Continue reading
Posted in Congregation Beth Am, Fear, High Holidays, Uncategorized
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We Will Not Be Silent. A Rosh Hashanah Sermon 5778 delivered at Congregation Beth Am, Buffalo Grove, IL
My husband Kyle has been a cook county court house manager for many years. A few years ago Kyle was sitting in the chambers of a Latino Judge and saw a ram’s horn prominently displayed on the judge’s shelf. Kyle … Continue reading
Ayin Tova: To See The Good 
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