Rabbi Sherman - Honorable Mensch-ion

A question is often asked if acts of kindness should be publicized or anonymous. While both paths have value, our ancestor Rivka performs a small act that gives us insight into how publicizing kindness can be contagious. When Eliezer, Abraham’s servant, goes to search for a wife for Isaac, he sees Rivka carrying a pitcher of water upon her shoulder.

I write to you from Dallas, TX at the JNF-USA Global Conference for Israel where 30 of our David and Angella Nazarian Fellows and 30 of our Flesh Family Sinai Temple Israel Center Rabbinical Fellows have gathered among thousands for a Shabbat full of Israel inspiration.

For the last three years, I have hosted the podcast, Rabbi On The Sidelines, speaking about the intersection of sports and faith with athletes, coaches, team owners, and fans.

There is a Yiddish expression that says, a tzaddik in peltz, a righteous person wrapped in a fur coat. There are two choices when we are cold. We can build a fire and make everyone warm, or we can wrap ourselves in a warm coat, and leave everyone remaining to shiver.

Tonight begins the final evenings of the Sukkot Holiday. As we are supposed to be at our moment of utmost joy, zman simchateinu, we have now reached the yahrzeit of the 1200 souls who were murdered at this moment last year. How do we hold these two opposing feelings and commands in our heart at once?

Tomorrow morning, we will take our lulav and etrog in our hands and wave the four species in six directions representing the presence of God in all directions. Yet, we must ask ourselves, do we take our Judaism in those six directions, too?

Tomorrow morning, we will take our lulav and etrog in our hands and wave the four species in six directions representing the presence of God in all directions. Yet, we must ask ourselves, do we take our Judaism in those six directions, too?

The Neilah service is recited once a year. It’s full name, Neilat She’arim, means the closing of the gates, as Rav describes in the Talmud, the time when the heavenly gates are closing.

The season has arrived. After all the preparation to get to this moment, we have no choice but to be ready for the High Holy Day season of 5785. There is no fathomable way we could look back to last Rosh Hashana and imagine what we the Jewish people have experienced since then. Nothing like it in our lifetime. And yet, when we gather in the synagogue on Wednesday evening, we will add words to our prayers that we only insert during this time. Zachreinu L'chayim, remember us for life. Each of us have the hope to be inscribed in the book of life. Yet, as we read in the Torah this Shabbat, haniglot lanu vhanistaro l’adonai, the things that are revealed to in the world are for us, and the things that we do not see are for God. Not one of us can predict the days, months, or years ahead, but we do have the power to shape how our lives will one day be remembered.

Rabbi Shmuel Salanter would often be bombarded with questions of Jewish law and other matters concerning personal problems. His family became frustrated and told him that he must set aside special hours for receiving the public in order that he would have time for himself to rest.