Rabbi Jim‘s Podcast

Beyond the sermons I post here, I also like to include the speakers who come to Beth David to present and teach us about their core issues.  Rabbi Richie Address works for the URJ  (Union for Reform Judaism) and is Director of Jewish Family Concerns.  His department deals with the multitude of issues impacting the family.  What are the costs and strains being experienced by the Club Sandwich generation and why do so many Baby Boomers feel like the toothpick (with the cellophane on top) holding it all together? 
[NOTE: This recording and Part II are only part of Rabbi Address' talk.]

This week we look at the possible contradictions between the Torah Ex. 20 and Ex. 34.  What happens when the Torah tells us to do, and not do the same thing?  While this sermon is somewhat complicated, its semantics are exceeded by its message to us at this time.

Shalom and thank you for joining me.  Recently I was in the Negev on a trip to visit Bedouin towns.  As we sat on the bus we were introduced to the Inter-Agency Task Force on Israeli Arab Issues.  We listened as Avivit Hai, one of the representatives of this group, shared one aspect of the story that plays out in Israeli society today.  NOTE: this recording was made on a bus and is not the best, however I think that the story you will hear will help you better understand one of the many complex issues we never see in the American press.

Shalom...from Jerusalem, Israel!  Thank you for listening to my podcast and it is coming to you from the holy city of Jerusalem.  Getting here was, let's say and adventure in both travel (10 hours on the plane) and ethics.  I usually don't have Pirkei Avot (Ethics Teachings of our Ancestors) ringing in my head, but for some reason this tractate from the Mishnah was very present for me as we boarded the plane to get here.

There can be no denying the economic crisis our country and our world experiences these days.  The question we need to ask ourselves as religious communities is, "What is our roll?  What can we do?"  While many of our congregants feel the pressures of the economy, we need to remind ourselves of the power of faith and community.  How?  Please listen.

Here is the continuation of Rabbi Baker's talk.

We were joined on the pulpit of Beth David this past week by Rabbi Andrew Baker of the American Jewish Committee.  Rabbi Baker is a leading expert on anti-Semitism and spoke of the challenges and difficulties that have emerged out of the newly configured Europe we have today.

Can I interest you in Hanukkah?  This question was posed by John Stewart on the Colbert Christmas special.  Can I interest you in learning about the different Hanukkahs in Jewish History as we struggled to come to terms with both miracle and practical?  Is Hanukkah the sword...oil...dreidel...sacrifice?  Can we be interested in the celebration and meaning of Hanukkah?

In memory of Jurgen and Daphne Schmidt.

Thanksgiving, football and Divine Destiny might not be what you would expect in a religious conversation, however they are very much tied together.  When the angel Columbia appears to push our 'sacred civilization' from sea to shinning sea, we should wonder about the mixing of religious and national messages.
In addition, I personally implore you to keep in your prayers and kaddish lists those who were murdered in cold blood at the Mumbai Jewish center.