Rabbi Sherman - Honorable Mensch-ion

One of the first prayers our children learn is Mi Chamocha, who is like you God? The Israelites recited these words as they crossed the sea. Each Wednesday morning, at our Douglas Family ECC Mini-Minyan, the students and parents alike...

Rashi asks a simple but profound question question when teaching about the mitzvah of the new moon. How much of the moon must be visible to consecrate it as a new moon? Rashi teaches that God held out God’s finger...

While every Shabbat is special, there is one as a Jew in America that I look forward to with special intention: UNITY Shabbat. As we mark a day of service to honor the legacy of Dr Martin Luther King, Jr.,...

As the Jews were enslaved in Egypt, we learn that their lives were embittered by hard labor, b’farech. The Rabbis give two interpretations. First, we were enticed to Egypt, b’peh-rach, with soft words. The hard labor did not begin until...

What is a community? One definition is “a feeling of fellowship with others.” What is sacred community? It’s a place where one comes to discover transcendence and a greater purpose than ourselves. Since the High Holy Days concluded, we have...

As we watch the rain drops fall in the west and the snowflakes fall in the east, we are reminded of the changing time of year. In Jewish tradition, we have blessings for all moments. We pray for a healthy...

In the midst of Hanukkah, this past Wednesday, I had the opportunity to join JNF-USA on a trip to Israel’s Negev, the south. We began in a Gaza envelope town called Ofakim, at the home of a woman named Ossi....

In conversation with a friend from New York this week, he told me, “Rabbi, life is easy, but living is hard.” When I asked him to elaborate, he said, “We are born into this world without a choice. That is...

As Jacob wrestles with the angel that leads to his transformation of taking the name Yisrael, we also must recognize that Jacob was injured in this struggle. Yes, the angel lost, but Jacob was also harmed in the encounter. Rabbi...

This weekend has some of the most travelled days of the year. We arrive at destinations to see family and friends, eat good food, and express our gratitude for community. Yet, we often do not prepare ourselves for what could...