“Black Lives Matter”: My Talk at an African American Church
I still recall the time many years ago when I told my children, now grown and with children of their own, about the story of
August 17, 2016
Writings, Sermons & Articles
The Tragedy in Orlando
I turn to our tradition for guidance, comfort and wisdom when looking for answers and trying to make some semblance of sense of some senseless
June 20, 2016
“Everyone Has a Name”
June 11, 2016 This morning’s Torah reading contains the census and includes names of the leaders and members of tribes in the wilderness. Hearing
June 11, 2016
Confirmation Class Message
June 4, 2016 In October of this past year I led a delegation of rabbis who are the heads of the various movements of
June 4, 2016
Yiddish Scores Again!
May 28, 2016 It happened again. Just this week. The final round of the annual Scripps National Spelling bee required contestants to be able
May 28, 2016
Aharei Mot: After the Holocaust
May 7, 2016 In the Jewish tradition names are given by parents to perpetuate the memory of a loved one, or to convey some
May 7, 2016
Shalom Auslander’s “Fallen Jew”
Shalom Auslander’s column, “A ‘fallen Jew’ on what to read this Passover” is so full of mistakes and misconceptions it more properly should have appeared
April 25, 2016
Shabbat HaGadol: To Kitniyot or Not?
April 16, 2016 Today is known as “Shabbat HaGadol” because it is the Sabbath before Passover. Because Passover is such an important holiday, with
April 16, 2016
How Can We Forget When We Are Commanded to Remember
Shabbat Zachor March 19, 2016 A basic principle of both American and Jewish law is intent. Take for example the story of the
March 19, 2016
MLK Shabbat 2016
Tonight we welcome our friends from the People’s Community Baptist Church of Silver Spring. In August my wife and I were welcomed by Pastor Robinson
January 21, 2016
Does God Have a Favorite in the Belmont Stakes?
Chanukah December 12, 2015 I want to share with you an explanation I wrote of the Chanukah story which puts it in contemporary terms.
December 12, 2015
Jacob: The First Syrian Refugee
November 21, 2015 We read today about the heart wrenching story of a family of Syrian refugees. Escaping from their oppressive environment, from the
November 21, 2015
Nature vs. Nurture
November 14, 2015 Today’s Torah portion offers a fascinating insight into the age old question: nature vs. nurture. One of the oldest ongoing arguments
November 14, 2015
Why Sandy Koufax Still Matters
November 7, 2015 This week marks the 20th anniversary of the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin. The anniversary was the source of much speculation
November 7, 2015
Lech Lecha: Go Forth and What I Told the Prime Minister
October 24, 2015 I took the advice of this week’s torah portion. Using the opening words as my guide, as my GPS, where Avraham,
October 24, 2015
When Life Is Unfair
Yom Kippur September 23, 2015/5776 Laughter, joy and happiness are an essential and integral part of what it means to be Jewish. In fact,
September 23, 2015
Who Am I: Confronting Ourselves
Rosh Hashana Day 2 September 15, 2015/5776 Since I spoke last year about Fiddler on the Roof on the High Holidays and why I
September 15, 2015
Tiger Moms, Helicopter Moms and Jewish Moms: What Judaism Can Teach Parents
Rosh Hashana Day 1 September 14, 2015/5776 When you buy a TV, a cellphone, a car, or any other major appliance you get a
September 14, 2015
In Memory of Governor Marvin Mandel
We are gathered here today: people from all walks of life and from all parts of the state: The powerful and the mighty, along with
September 4, 2015
Oren’s Problem: Can We Handle the Truth?
As I wrote in the Times of Israel when Oren completed his term as Israel’s ambassador to the United States, “His approach has been to
August 18, 2015
Rabbi Weinblatt’s Speech at a Baptist Church on the Charleston 9
Rabbi Weinblatt organized a national effort endorsed by 18 major national Jewish organizations to show support for the African American community and to express abhorrence
June 30, 2015
Confirmation Class Message – 2015
May 30, 2015 The focus of study for the confirmation class is studying ancient texts. We study classic Jewish sources for a number of
May 30, 2015
The Sabbatical Year
May 16, 2015 This week we read about the mitzvah of shmitta, the requirement to let the land lie fallow every seventh year. Just
May 16, 2015
Don’t Cry for Me Argentina
May 9, 2015 As president of the Rabbinic Cabinet of JFNA, I have had the privilege of traveling with colleagues from across the US
May 9, 2015
